We've just come across an article in this morning's papers about revocation of planning permission in cases where no development work has taken place within a particular period of time following approval. The move is designed to prevent "land banking" where developers hoard land while waiting for house prices to rise.
However, it could also effect sites like the George & Dragon where the property is acquired simply for the purpose of acquiring planning permission and then selling it on at a profit.
Apparently, it will be down to the local council to decide on how long the planning permission is valid for with a figure of three years being suggested. Once the time limit has been reached, developers will have to reapply. Previously, it seems that planning permission could be easily extended but not so now.
The bad news for the owners of the G&D is that their planning permission was granted in December 2010 ... and the three years will be up on the 15th of next month!
However, it could also effect sites like the George & Dragon where the property is acquired simply for the purpose of acquiring planning permission and then selling it on at a profit.
Apparently, it will be down to the local council to decide on how long the planning permission is valid for with a figure of three years being suggested. Once the time limit has been reached, developers will have to reapply. Previously, it seems that planning permission could be easily extended but not so now.
The bad news for the owners of the G&D is that their planning permission was granted in December 2010 ... and the three years will be up on the 15th of next month!
Interesting stuff,I hadn`t seen the proposed Tory changes.It will be interesting to see what happens with this,the blog entry saying "it will be up to the council to decide" etc. My experience of this council is that it has never been on the side of the voting population,always favouring the developers and the councillors hidden/not so hidden agendas.
ReplyDeleteLets not hold our breath that SBC will do anything to favour us !
But interesting news.....with our luck and the hapless SBC,the reapplication will be for the social housing apartment development in the initial application !
Response from SBC:
ReplyDeleteI visited the site on 7/11/13.
I note that currently the building is boarded and a small obstruction has been laid across the access to the rear car park.
An application has been submitted to this Council to demolish the building, however prior to development a condition in the approved planning permission requires discharging.
My investigations have ascertained that information has been supplied to discharge the condition which should be approved during the next week, this will then allow the demolition application to be processed.
It is apparent that the owners are seeking all the relevant permissions to enable works to commence, presumably because the relevant planning permission requires the works to commence no later than 16 December 2013.
As the land is privately owned we have no powers to insist on any form of barriers to the car park however a condition in the planning approval states “ Within 4 weeks of the demolition of the former George and Dragon public house all rubble shall be removed from the site and a 2 metre high close boarded fence shall be erected along the entire frontage of the site. The fence shall be retained throughout the period of construction on site.”