Graham Simpkin Planning

We are very excited to share that our Graduate Planner Oliver Neary starts his journey towards achieving an MA in Urban Planning and Resilience today at University of Kent! GSP Ltd will support him through his studies and wish him the very best of luck 👨🎓

𝟯𝟬 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗚𝗦𝗣) 𝗼𝗯𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 In a bumper week of housing permissions, GSP has successfully used a variety of strategies on sites, each subject to a vast number of constraints, to contribute to a much-needed boost to housing supply. In Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council granted permission for the conversion of an office building into 3 dwellings. Despite some challenging constraints such as being in the High Weald National Landscape, the Green Belt, the countryside, 7km from a Habitat Regulations Assessment zone and the fact that the building is Grade II listed, GSP (along with co-consultants BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO LTD, Crosby Transport Planning and Silva Arboriculture) collectively managed to persuade officers that a modest extension and re-use for residential purposes was acceptable. In Paddock Wood’s countryside, the client approached GSP following the commencement of enforcement investigations relating to the siting of 5 additional caravans within an otherwise lawful caravan park. GSP liaised with the enforcement officer from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and encouraged the client to add a further 4 caravan plots to deliver a more efficient use of the previously developed land. Thanks to our co-consultants for their assistance: Bourne Project Services (drainage and flood risk), Hook (topographical) and Native Ecology | Certified B Corp. In Meopham’s countryside and Green Belt, Gravesham Borough Council has granted permission to convert an existing stables building into 3 self-build dwellings. Officers considered that the development would conserve the character and spatial layout of the existing stable block, as well as providing suitable living accommodation without any harm to neighbouring amenity or highway safety. Thanks to our co-consultants for their assistance: KB ECOLOGY LTD and TSC Designs Ltd (structural survey). Finally, in the West Malling Conservation Area, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has granted a prior notification under Class MA for the change of use of a commercial building and land within its curtilage to 15 residential dwellings. For more information on any of the above permissions or to discuss a potential future project, please email office@gsplanning.uk or telephone 01474 703705 #residential #planningpermission #townplanning #planning #architecture #development #design #housing #windfall #housebuilding #newhome

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝘄 News of our latest appeal success after an Inspector has allowed our client's appeal against the refusal of permission for a new stable building in the Green Belt within Sevenoaks. The Inspector considered the proposed development was appropriate development in the Green Belt. The appeal parties agreed there was no harm to openness from a spatial perspective as the building was of an appropriate size and the Inspector went on to conclude that the location of the proposed building and its immediate context meant that the building would not materially reduce the visual openness of the Green Belt. As the proposal was considered to ‘be low-key and in a discreet, well-screened location at the eastern edge of the site, integrating well in the local area’ the Inspector also concluded that there was no conflict with the purposes of including land within the Green Belt. For more information about this appeal, please contact Steve Clarke. Graham Simpkin Planning can offer to review a refusal or enforcement notice and provide balanced, well-informed advice as to how best to proceed. Our appeal record is exemplary - please get in touch today for a free quote. #recreational #planningpermission #greenbelt #architecture #planningappeal #development

A second appeal success in 2 weeks, GSP has now had an appeal allowed in Sevenoaks, for a certificate seeking to confirm the lawful existence of a dwellinghouse. The structure was originally a mobile home brought onto the site temporarily in 1988 to accommodate an agricultural worker and has remained on site, had been physically altered and significantly extended since that time. The Inspector disagreed with the decision of Sevenoaks Council and granted a Lawful Development Certificate for the following reasons: 👉 The original structure is not a ‘caravan’ as defined by the Caravan Sites & Control of Development Act 1960 & the Caravan Sites Act 1968 👉 The structure as a whole is a building, having regard to its size, permanence & physical attachment to the ground & thus constituted a building operation 👉 The building operations were substantially completed more than 4 years ago & the time for taking enforcement action had expired 👉 The land on which the building was constructed was already in residential use by virtue of the 1988 temporary planning permission, but no subsequent change of use of the land had occurred since then. For more information on the appeal, please contact Steve Clarke. #appealallowed #appeal #planningpermission #planning

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐆𝐒𝐏) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 An Inspector has allowed an appeal in Southfleet's Conservation Area (SCA) for the erection of a single storey side extension. The Inspector took account of the SCA comprising a mixed range and age of buildings, including flat and pitched roof extensions and outbuildings, all visible from a key crossroads in the centre of the SCA. The Inspector acknowledged that the proposed extension would match the height of an existing flat roofed rear infill and that the proposed roof would include three modest sized raised roof-lights helping to break up the roof line, whilst the proposed elevations would be simple and uncluttered. The Inspector also noted the extension would be set back from the street (by 15 metres). To run parallel with the appeal, GSP resubmitted the application. Dartford requested further amendments to this to include a lower flat roof that would need to drop down from the existing one it was going to attach to. GSP considered that such an amendment would result in a poor design, leading to greater harm to the SCA. The Inspector essentially agreed with GSP on this point in paragraph 17 of the appeal decision. Dartford also wanted to see the width reduced by 50% and lower or the complete removal of the roof lights, whilst, unlike the Inspector, they did not take into account the personal reasons for the extension. #planningpermission #planningappeal #appealallowed #conservationarea #heritage #planning

The GSP family had a different reason to cheer recently, when our Architectural Assistant, Margo, got married to her long-term partner Blake.   After a GSP celebratory evening out in Rochester, Margo enjoyed a fortnight celebrating in the Dominican Republic.   A big congratulations to Margo and Blake from everyone at GSP!

Another appeal success for GSP with full costs awarded against Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. The property is the southern part of a semi-detached pair of cottages in the Green Belt and the High Weald National Landscape.   Following refusal of a 2nd application that followed pre-application advice, it came to light that similar plans had already been approved for the attached cottage, which the clients resubmitted as part of the appeal application, but the Council failed to upload, consequently the case officer was unaware of this neighbouring approval.   GSP advised the clients to promptly proceed with an appeal due to the upcoming deadline, alongside a claim for costs on the basis that the Council had; (i) Made vague, generalised or inaccurate assertions about a proposal’s impact, which are unsupported by any objective analysis; (ii) Prevented or delayed development which should have been clearly permitted and (iii) Not determined cases in a consistent matter.     The lodging of the appeal enabled the architect to continue to seek to resolve matters with the LPA, which was eventually the case and a further application with plans identical to the appeal application were submitted and then permitted, but only after the appeal was lodged.   No evidence was subsequently offered by the LPA in respect of the appeal.   The Inspector held that the Council had not determined the appeal application in a consistent manner with other decisions it had made and that as the LPA subsequently approved an identical application to the appeal proposals, their actions had, in forcing the submission of the appeal to safeguard the clients’ position, prevented and delayed development which should have been permitted.   For more information on this project, please contact Steve Clarke

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) is proud to have worked with Stone Parish Council on this community project having secured a hybrid planning permission for major upgrades to this 14 acre recreation ground. Subsequently, a prompt approval from Dartford Borough Council on details pursuant to the pre-commencement conditions has enabled construction work to start on phase 1. GSP has also now been instructed to assist with discharging the requirements of the remaining conditions as well as assisting with the submission for phase 2. GSP looks forward to seeing the completed works in due course.

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has won an enforcement appeal on three grounds in connection with a Green Belt village site in Sevenoaks District Council, significantly reducing the scope and requirements of a notice that was originally served on the client back in August 2022. The Inspector fully agreed with GSP’s ground (c) and (d) evidence, specifically that the planning unit was the entire site and that the land benefitted from a lawful storage use.   GSP’s work for the client now means:   ▪ The hardstanding that was the subject of the notice is permitted development so can remain (also part of GSP’s ground (c) case); ▪ The compliance period for the removal of the new structures has been extended from 6 to 8 months (the ground (g) case); ▪ Open storage can continue across the entire site (the ground (d) case).   In advance of the hearing, GSP attempted to work with the Council to narrow the issues, however much was only conceded by the Council at the hearing.   The Inspector’s required amendments to the notice are also exactly as GSP predicted at the start of the enforcement appeal process.   Paul Nicholls attended and represented the client at the hearing.   #greenbelt #commercial #appealdecision #enforcement #previouslydevelopedland #townplanning #redevelopment #appeal

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has recently received some fantastic reviews from returning clients. In the last month GSP has been involved with two long-running projects that reached their respective conclusions. Both involved GSP successfully persuading Councillors to decide against the recommendations of their planning officers. In Chichester, GSP acted on behalf of a residents group that resulted in the refusal of an application to vary a condition that would have permitted the playing of amplified music in a public house, every evening, despite being within a highly dense residential area with a children's boarding school directly opposite. GSP has previously reported on the other project in Dartford, where Councillors granted permission for 4 dwellings and a micro pub to replace the 1 dwelling and overly large pub that had remained derelict for almost 5 years. Well done to all of the GSP team that worked on these projects and thank you to our clients for the wonderful Google reviews!