How do we change a proposed development?

[itsallaboutthebass]

I don't want to be a NIMBY at ALL! I support the new gov development ideas and the need for new homes.

BUT... there is a proposal local to us which I'm really unhappy about. I agree they should build new homes there but not in the way they are proposing, as I just feel it will spoil a beautiful area. It's a Conservation area with old Victorian homes and lovely old trees. They are building over a disused site and I welcome new homes as we do need them. However it's the design of the proposal I'm unhappy about (not the fact it's happening at all).

They've made it really awful looking, and plonked 4 storey houses on the other side of a street with small 2 storey homes which will completely block out their light. Shouldn't they have up build homes of the same height? The look of the design is not at all even attempting to be in keeping with the local surroundings. I'm a fan of modern architecture where it's imaginative / beautiful but this isn't it. It looks like a very bland, conventional blocky new build just like every other new build / office etc.

To be clear I know the new homes will look different and new, but I just think they are not complementing the existing conservation area and will make quality of life worse for those in the surrounding streets.

The planners have an email address and say there will be a consultation in due course but the decision is due to be signed off in December and there is no other information.

What's the best course of action - not to stop the building of new homes but to try to make the architects listen and actually be imaginative?

Is it best to email the developer, the council, the architects or what?

If you are local you will get the chance to object with your reaosns. Design is ons of the reasons for objecting I think.

If you want to be helpful you could consult with the local history society and suggest some amendments that would make them more in keeping.

If you have local civic or amenity society they may be able to help you as they will have experience with planning applications.

Go onto the councils planning portal and register your objections there. If there enough comments it will go up the Council planning committee where councillors can vote for/against

The plans aren't anywhere on the borough councils website and I've done an extensive search. The only way you can voice your opinion is by contacting their representatives directly which seems wrong.

Speak to your local councillor

Until it goes in for pp you have no real say. I'd be surprised if it gets signed off by Christmas, especially if there are objections.

I don't know about borough councils. Someone will have the power to grant the application so you need to find out who. As to your reasons, go ahead with any - aesthetic or whatever. I am furious with myself for not taking good notice of a local development, which has gone up with hardly a piece of green there and I realised too late that I would have liked to see a length of hedge or a row of trees along one edge of it.
You could make your feelings known to your local MP and ask her/him to tell you who to approach on which council.

I understand what you mean about us having to accept some building, but if you don't watch them they get away with insensitive nonsense. Best wishes. Make noise. Express your feelings politely in a letter to the local paper.

We live in a conservation area and the local council are very strict about the type of buildings and design of extensions etc. I'd think the best course of action is that once the planning application goes live, you write a letter about the design not being in in-keeping with the local vernacular.

Are they having a consultation about the proposed development prior to submission of the actual plans? As in they'll have glossy brochures, create a few large display boards and hire the local village hall and take notes, encourage you to write down what you think. Quite often developers will do this to sound out the local opposition, and will amend their ideas to ensure least objections. So alongside saying you don't think the design of the house will compliment the conservation area, you must also tell them the proposed houses are too big/tall. Having told the developers this, you must also object to the actual plans once submitted (many people think they've already complained thus don't need to object again)

You’ll need to comment on the planning application.
Search the planning portal

It sounds as though this might be a consultation by the developers prior to submitting a planning application. You should be able to comment somewhere your concerns about the impact on the Conservation Area. I would either ring the local planning department to ask how, or contact your local Councillor who should be able to tell you or fund out for you.
Keep an eye on your Council's planning portal to see if/when the actual planning application is submitted. You will be able to comment at that stage too.

Do you know if the developer has actually submitted the planning application? If they have, you should be able to find it on the planning portal website

Planning Portal

If you live in a Borough Council area, planning applications may be the responsibility of your county council, hence it’s not on the Borough Council website (assuming you are in England - I don’t know about the Scottish/ Welsh/ NI systems).

You should definitely contact your local councillor to highlight your concerns, as well as making a formal objection to the planning application. The fact it’s in a Conservation Area should be considered as part of the planning application process. I agree with the suggestion of contacting the local Civic Trust or equivalent.