Best Laid Plans
Historically planners have had a reputation for being somewhat dragonesque, but these days with a comprehensive review of planning legislation now under way, you may find the opposite is true. In fact most will do anything for an easy life – they’d far rather be asked if something is likely to pass, if it means preventing Armageddon breaking out on their patch and possible court action later on. It’s understandable. If your application is refused, and goes to appeal, they run the risk of getting landed with a hefty legal bill.
Plan Ahead - it isn’t necessary to have an application ‘in the system’ before having discussions with planners - they won’t charge for preliminary meetings to discuss what you want to do, so take full advantage. You can also save yourself time and hassle by making a preliminary on online enquiry before submitting your full proposal with detailed drawings. This will allow you to gauge a council’s reaction to your proposal before you take it any further.
Be Clear - planning permission rules are open to interpretation. Unlike building regulations, planning regulations differ from one area of the country to the next and the scope for inconsistencies between planners – even within one authority – can be huge. The onus is therefore on you and how well you can sell your self-build, renovation or extension project in relation to your particular authority’s development plan. A well-crafted design brief doused with ‘planning-speak’ from your architect, is worth its weight in gold and will have considerably more impact than your paint by numbers version, particularly if you need to explain away any design deviations.
Brief Ahead - get your neighbours and parish council on side prior to making your application and accommodating any specific concerns they have into your design. It could mean the difference between a delegated approval and a planning committee refusal.
Laura Henderson is a property journalist, author and investment experts. Editor of Abode2 magazine www.abode2.com, her latest book Tricks and Mortar: The Little Book of Property Wisdom is out now.
Plan Ahead - it isn’t necessary to have an application ‘in the system’ before having discussions with planners - they won’t charge for preliminary meetings to discuss what you want to do, so take full advantage. You can also save yourself time and hassle by making a preliminary on online enquiry before submitting your full proposal with detailed drawings. This will allow you to gauge a council’s reaction to your proposal before you take it any further.
Be Clear - planning permission rules are open to interpretation. Unlike building regulations, planning regulations differ from one area of the country to the next and the scope for inconsistencies between planners – even within one authority – can be huge. The onus is therefore on you and how well you can sell your self-build, renovation or extension project in relation to your particular authority’s development plan. A well-crafted design brief doused with ‘planning-speak’ from your architect, is worth its weight in gold and will have considerably more impact than your paint by numbers version, particularly if you need to explain away any design deviations.
Brief Ahead - get your neighbours and parish council on side prior to making your application and accommodating any specific concerns they have into your design. It could mean the difference between a delegated approval and a planning committee refusal.
Laura Henderson is a property journalist, author and investment experts. Editor of Abode2 magazine www.abode2.com, her latest book Tricks and Mortar: The Little Book of Property Wisdom is out now.