Paul Nicholls’ Post

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Company & Planning Director of Graham Simpkin Planning, co-author of the PlanMan app & President of Erith & District Swimming Club

An early Christmas present that takes us to over 70% of successful appeals this year at GSP... We've also won a number of costs applications too. But, at risk of undermining our sterling work, I think this figure reflects what I consider to be a higher number of harsh decisions reached by Council's this year. Here's my pick of suggestions to LPAs: - Visit every site (not including Google Streetview); - Review and revise procedures and/or scheme of delegation; - Be more positive about development (see para 38 of the Framework); - Ensure you have support from the relevant technical consultee; - Conduct a planning balance exercise: do not automatically refuse an application because of a single consultee comment and remember that a development can still be contrary to a policy but you can still grant permission; - Provide more training and improve planning knowledge of Councillors (you knew this would be on the list). There might not be anything new in the list above, but these issues are happening too frequently and slowing the process down (and of course adding to the costs of Council's who are unnecessarily taking cases to committee and/or appeal). The above should be addressed if only because of what's around the corner...

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Graham Simpkin Planning has won an appeal against Dartford Borough Council, taking its allowed appeal decision rate to over 70% for 2023. This appeal was in connection with a householder development in Wilmington comprising multiple attached extensions and an increase in its overall height. Although Dartford's officers were acknowledging of variations in style and scale throughout the road they did not believe that anything other than modest dwellings with traditional roofs existed in this part of the street. However, substantial properties comprising crown roofs and/or two-storey front projections for example were factually all in existence just a few dwellings away, whilst the subject dwelling already benefitted from a two storey rear extension and single storey lean-to that had resulted in a staggered side building line and convoluted double hipped roof with a valley. As such, GSP disagreed with the Council's suggestion that the existing dwelling could reasonably be described as having "a simple, shallow and unimposing pitched roof." The proposed plans aimed to improve and regularise the overall shape of the dwelling. The Inspector considered that there was very little continuity within the street, providing greater freedom for change and she concluded that the proposed design would not represent poor additions or result in it having an unduly prominent appearance. For more details or if you want GSP to review the merits of a potential appeal please get in touch. #residential #planningpermission #appealallowed #appeal #appeals #townplanning #planning #architecture #planningappeal #development #design

Sue Field

Chartered Town Planner

10mo

It would be interesting to know how many of the appeal wins were member overturns.

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Lydia Hill-Wood

Company Director Hill-Wood&Co (Kent) Ltd

10mo

Well done Paul Nicholls 🙌

Adam Miles

Commercial & Development Agency at The Acorn Group

10mo

Great work Paul!

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Matt Brown

Owner Brown Boots Town Planning

10mo

Couldnt agree more with point 4 Paul. The whole art of planning is decision making and assessing whether the development would result in any quantifiable harm, LPA just hide behind policy these days, knowing it ll take 8 months to get a decision from PINs

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