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Hi, We have recently moved into a property and are looking to utilise all the garden space. Currently the garden is separated by a 2m wall which we want to knock down and extend the garden into the unused space in Picture A and Picture B (yellow line depicts where the 2m wall is currently). We originally wanted to place fencing behind the small wall but pre planning advice has let us know that it will be rejected as it "will negatively impact the character and appearance of the local area". We have attached the Pre Planning Advice Response for reference. So our second thought was to knock the small wall down and erect 1m high rail fencing and plant some 2m high hedging as we know that doing both of these, should not require planning permission. However we have been advised that this will also require planning permission to change the use of the land from from private open space to private garden land. In our Deeds (Picture C) or on our Title Plan (Picture D) it does not show a separation the the two area. We then asked the council to provide where they have acquired this information from and they sent us through an image of the original landscaping plan with a clear divide (Picture E) with this email; "I have attached an extract from the landscaping plan as part of the original planning application which informed my assessment. The plan shows the dwarf wall, the planting location to the rear and then the location of your boundary fence to your garden. Similarly, the planning layouts also show a clear division between the rear garden of the properties and the current wall position. It is for this reason that I concluded that this land is used as strategic landscaping / amenity land. Your proposal would materially change the use of the land from amenity space to garden land and therefore a change of use planning application would be required." No one maintains the area, and it is full of weeds and litter. We believe it is our responsibility to maintain it but we have no access to the area and we would not benefit from putting any effort in, as we do not use or see the space. We now don't know what to do, where to start, or whether it will be futile trying to get the change of use in the first place. TIA. Pre Planning Advice Response Letter.pdf Pre Planning Advice Response Report.pdf

Sitting in another Parish Committee meeting (I'm not a councillor), I regularly hear invalid reasons for objection put forward. The best of tonight's crop were; '.... the design includes a lift.... and I think it's going to be used as a care home...', and that from a Councillor So, I spent a few moments googling 'invalid reasons for objecting to planning applications' And this is what I found; Martin Goodhall's planning blog K S Law's site Clackmannashire's planning site Designing Buildings Wiki The Government's own advice (read 'What Cannot Be Considered') I spoke up, and said that I thought speculation about motive for the build was probably unwise, and might well be improper (impugning the application). Got shot at for saying that. That's absolutely fine by me. It's a privilege to be taken to task for openness. None of us is getting older are we? None of us are going to need a lift in our old age. Everyone uses stair-lifts. What's the 'worst' reason for objection you've heard?

Hi my husband and are building 2 properties in our back garden and after 3/4 years of planning applications, buying 3 garages adjacent to our garden, various legal issues, we finally have planning permission and we are ready to start! However, although we submitted a CIL exemption form in January 2020 (our son is buying the land and building one of the properties) we are still awaiting a decision. We have had to resubmit the forms due to MMA but still after us emailing and calling, we have not heard back. How long is reasonably ‘Practicable’, surely 5 months even despite covid 19 is unreasonable? The builder we wanted to use is on standby but cannot wait much longer before securing another job that he can start immediately. We are at a standstill when we could have been clearing the site whilst not at work. Frustration levels are through the roof! Nicky and Leigh

Hi All, has anyone had any experience with submitting planning permission for an end terrace? Had the planning officer round last week to run through our proposal and he said it was an awkward plot; putting another 3 bed house on the end would make sense and looks right from street side (already a single story garage in the footprint of the proposal) but the main detractor was that as the rear gardens of the neighbours all look onto one another building up another story above the garage may be over bearing to the adjoining garden. I'm planning to push back on this due to a number of reasons; -Privacy; all the back gardens look onto one another from the outset and if it comes to it we could use obscured glass on the top floor - Light doesn't seem to be a problem -View; the garden within the closest proximity cant actually see the open air view from the window, can only be seen when in the garden. Additionally he said a extension ( half house = 3m) would probably be allowed but the difference between this and allowing the new build really would seem negligible. Looking at other submissions in the area new infill houses and extensions have been built although not in the exact same situation apart from one up the road which was given planning permission due to an administrative error! The refusal was printed on a piece on paper which said PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED and so had no conditions which is an interesting case. Does anyone have any advice on what to emphasise in the application? Pictures attached, thanks for any help given

Just spoke to my Council. They are planning to continue to run services, potentially with a reduced staff if employees are affected, but with no public access to the offices. Very rational to keep going as nearly as possible. I am thinking about doing an Change of Use app that needs to be done during my period in isolation. Ferdinand

I've just come across this article in the local rag. Only two of these houses currently, but it's a good start. Turn on your adblockers, by the way, as the local news will take a long time to load up by the time it's done all adverts. Bournemouth Echo council passivhaus article

This time in Islington. It’s not the end of the line yet I guess http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/architect-amin-taha-riba-award-win-15-clerkenwell-close-islington-council-demolish-1-5705356

Has anyone tried compost from recyclers of local authority green waste? Because we have really heavy clay soil at the new place, my kitchen garden will be almost entirely no-dig raised beds (I'm trying the methods promoted by Charles Dowding). I will need to fill these with compost - far too much to be messing around with 40l bags of the stuff, so I'm planning a bulk delivery from the closest green waste recycling plant and I will get a quote on prices next week. I will be able to start making my own compost in due course as we're surrounding by dairy farms and horse stables, so there's no shortage of raw materials, just time in the first instance. Does anyone have any opinions on the quality of the compost if they have used it?

Following a recent post which also discussed House Naming application : I thought it might be worth exploring the subject a little more. Of the various comments, the main objection about having to go through the Council to name your house, is the cost, which varies quite significantly from council to council. There was in addition some comments expressed about why an official should get to approve the name of your house. Previously if course, this was a no cost service so there was very little reason not to fill in the form. Many have said that you are still going to get your mail, and over time your new address will start appearing on various databases even if you don't go through the local council, so given some councils are charging up to £150, why bother? For me, there is one very good reason, it will get your house mapped on the GIS system used by the emergency services. Think about it, do you really want to be in a position where you urgently need an ambulance or there is a fire and the crews don't know where your house is and they cannot get directions from their mapping systems. I've been in the position of trying to respond to 999 calls and being unable to find an address and not been able to get directions...something to consider. For those that object to paying the fees being charged, perhaps the way forward not only for yourself but the benefit of others would be to challenge the fee, which should of course only be on a cost recovery basis. Even assuming an hour of admin officer time in total for each application, one would of thought total employment costs wouldn't exceed £35 per hour. Anybody up for the challenge?