Appeal against a refusal of planning permission for a first-floor rear extension

Our client had built a small extension to the rear of his shop, at first floor level. Richmond Upon Thames Council requested that a planning application be submitted to regularise the breach, but then issued a refusal. The client faced the prospect of planning enforcement action, with the risk that he might have to demolish […]

Application for a certificate of lawfulness for a house (established use – four year rule)

If a new dwelling is created without planning permission, it becomes lawful after four years. This is known as the four year rule. To get confirmation from the council that the property is lawful, you can apply for a certificate of lawfulness. In this case, we submitted an application on behalf of clients whose house […]

Application to remove a planning condition restricting permitted development rights

When Mira’s house was extended in the mid-1990s, the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames imposed a condition removing permitted development rights for any further extensions in the future. However, the government’s national planning guidance says that these conditions are generally unreasonable and should not usually be used. The idea is that almost all houses in the […]