Permitted Development Rights – When is an Outbuilding ‘Reasonably Required’? In 2017, we won 100% of our planning appeals against Councils refusing outbuildings on the basis that they were not ‘reasonably required’. Houses in England have ‘permitted development’ rights for various types of development, meaning they can
Read more →The nightmare of Enforcement Notices against (permitted development) dormer roof extensions Every month, we help homeowners who are facing enforcement action after building a dormer extension to the roof of their property. Councils issue hundreds of Enforcement Notices ever year requiring householders to remove dormers that have
Read more →The Sunday Times quotes our research in a 7 page feature on the planning crisis In the Home section of today’s Sunday Times, journalist Martina Lees provides a detailed analysis of a crisis in the planning system. The article (which can be read here) features our detailed
Read more →Newham Council loses at appeal and is required to pay our client’s full costs On 2 September, we received notification that we had been successful in a planning appeal against a refusal of planning permission for a straightforward first floor rear extension in Forest Gate, in the
Read more →Why we have a high success rate on planning appeals for balconies and roof terraces **Update: We are currently unable to help with new planning applications for roof terraces, however we can assist in cases where planning permission has been refused and you are considering an appeal**
Read more →Like a number of London councils, Ealing is taking a hard line against outbuildings being used as living accommodation without planning permission (so called ‘beds in sheds’). It won an award for its work at the recent Planning Magazine Enforcement Awards. There has been a significant increase
Read more →Newham Council – Planning Enforcement Notices Newham Council issues more enforcement notices than almost any other council in the country. According to government planning statistics, the council issued a total of 382 notices in the year to September 2015. This is the second highest in all of
Read more →Last Saturday, the Telegraph featured our advice on winning the planning system’s ‘postcode lottery’. As we have pointed out elsewhere, some councils grant permission for a much higher proportion of applications than others. Councils in the south east, and in London in particular, are especially poor performers. The
Read more →DCLG Consultation on Upwards Extensions in London The government has started a consultation on making it easier for developers and homeowners to increase the height of their buildings (by a maximum of two storeys) to match the height of an adjoining building. The consultation document can be
Read more →The Northern Echo newspaper reports that Stockton Council has lost a 20th planning appeal in the last two years, and paid out a total of £80,000 in costs to appellants. The full story can be read here: Separate research by Just Planning (based on statistics provided by
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