Start .. Stop ... Start

Further to our last post, it transpires that, a few weeks ago, the owners submitted a request to discharge condition 19 of their planning permission.  This requires the submission and approval of road construction, street lighting and drainage details before work can commence.  However, the request was denied by SBC which means it's still in force.

Nevertheless, earlier on today workmen turned up to start work!  After some swift intervention by residents and one of our Borough Councillors, an Enforcement Officer duly arrived to ensure compliance with the planning permission conditions and work stopped.

The ownership issue remains unclear.  We're assuming that the site has been sold which would explain the sudden burst of activity after five years of stagnation but we don't know to whom.  The Land Registry shows no recent change of ownership although this could simply be a case of the paperwork not yet being processed.  We understand that, whoever does own the site, is now taking advice from their architect with a view to satisfying the remaining planning conditions.  Work will no doubt recommence at some point in the future hopefully in accordance with the planning permission.

Given the history of this saga, we would not be surprised if the new owners (assuming the site has been sold) were unaware that planning conditions had not been met.  What does surprise us somewhat is that there is no requirement for any one to notify local residents that work is about to commence.  Health & Safety?  Noise?  Traffic?  Incovenience?  Who are we to expect to be kept informed?

That's not the end of the matter, however.  As we have been writing this piece, work has started again!  In other words, the owners are flouting the planning permission, ignoring the Enforcement Officer and running the risk of having to rip out anything the BC doesn't like.  Will the Borough Council step up to the plate and do the necessary?   Your guess is as good as ours!