Forum Topic

Planning permission? No worries!!

In 2004 my neighbour applied for an extention and was refused. In 2007 he applied again - this time for a garden shed. This time permission was granted.However, what's going up is a garden shed Howard Hughes would be proud of. The exisiting brick shed was knocked down and the garden dug up and foundations laid. Then breeze blocks were laid...30ft by 20ft. Dividing walls (rooms??) went up last week. And this is a 'garden shed'!I have spoke to Ealing Council planning enforcement. They tell me that as long as the construction is less then 50pc the size of the garden, its a one storey and a flat roof - NO PROBLEM!! The only condition is that it cannot be used for habitation. I asked Ealing Council if they had sent anyone down to check the building works. They hadnt but they would 'send a letter'!!So....if you have a garden - start buidling!!! Dont worry about the neighbours or the council. Chances are you'll get away with it.

David Archer ● 6772d11 Comments

David we have reported a similar storey recently on the Acton Forum under the heading "Planning Regulations - Why Bother" I can't find the topic now unfortunately.A property has been purchased nearby and an application to increase the accommodation was refused. No bother, the plans were re-submitted but the building work is progressing regardless of the outcome despit protests from residents.A garage is being turned into a bedroom with en-suite etc. A roof is being raised abd so on. It makes one wonder why we are asked to comment and then ignored.One of the objections was no provision for parking despite the fact that the property will obviously house a greater number of people.As you say why bother?Remember the huge development facing the King Fahid Academy in East Acton? Nothing seems to have halted the building work there either!

Robert Julian Fernandez ● 6772d

It is now near the bottom of page 3 on Acton W3.

Philippa Bond ● 6772d

Maybe it's the new wave of affordable housing. Build a bungalow at the bottom of your garden. Just call it a shed for planning permission. Make sure it's not more than 49.5% of the garden space. Then rent it out. If anyone complains - well, they're a busy lot at the council - they'll probably send you a letter but then it's too late to do anything about it.

David Archer ● 6772d

They'll call in Health & Safety who will tell them that it doesn't have enough facilities....  Letters?  What letters?  What consultation?

Philippa Bond ● 6771d

Planning departments do seem to be all mouth and trousers. They huff and puff, but won't blow the house down.

Keith Clarke ● 6771d

When the going gets tough they hide under Delegated Powers.

Philippa Bond ● 6771d

This guide might answer some questions:http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/144827It says you can do a wide range of things with your outside space as long as it is less than 50% of the space - see Section B of document above.  But it also says:"Note: in all cases, if your new building would have a volume over 10 cubic metres and come within 5 metres of the house, you need to be aware that it could be treated as an extension (and its volume deducted) when calculating your entitlement to extend the house (see Section A)."This stuff is the law so it is no use blaming Ealing council.  I don't think Phillipa understands delegated powers.  It simply refers to simple cases where the planning committee delegates decisions to officers to speed things up.  The delegated procedure is most often applied in circumstances where there are no complex issues, or the proposal is wholly acceptable in planning terms and there are no objections raised.

Phil Taylor ● 6771d

Philippa has seen Delegated Powers.

Philippa Bond ● 6771d

..and yet the council is against us turning our front gardens into concrete car parks (increases flood risks)and yet quite happy for 49.9% of back gardens to be turned into buidling sites.

David Archer ● 6771d

We are told that we need hundreds of new homes.  Yet nobody seems to know how many people are here....  Everybody is busy counting and it must be really irritating because people just don't stay still...

Philippa Bond ● 6771d

Phil, Can you highlight the previous commonsense law to compare with the irresponsible new one?Very destabilising when expecting the new neighbours with their imported vision! Lets hope it will be rescinded by the next Parliament.

Robert Darke ● 6771d