Simplest way of doing a design and acccess statement?

[teta]

We are applying for a householder planning permission-but in a conservation area.We want to install a garden lodge [also can be used as a kids playhouse].We have submitted a simple plan but have now been told we need a 'design and access statement'.Can we do this ourselves or do we need to pay someone to do this?.Bearing in mind we've already paid the local authority and streetwise [for maps] we are starting to think this is all to much just to install a glorified garden shed!.Can anyone advise?

You can do this yourself- it's just basically a statement of justification so you will need to say how it doesn't affect the character and appearance of the conservation area and other issues such as neighbouring properties. Most councils do give guidance on what they expect, you could also have a look online at other planning applications and see what they have written.

Thank you sausage Dog.I ended up doing it yesterday after a phone call to our local council.Yes, i just put the building in its local context and surrounding environment and discussed the landscaping and access [footpath].Its all made so unnecessarily complicated though isn't it?.We've had a massive unsightly compost heap there for the last 10 years which is threatening to collapse onto the road so surely anything would be better[but i guess the council don't know this!].