So fed up of the planning system in this country .

[hattie43]

We are supposed to be getting this economy off its knees and yet even
sound proposals are declined just because they aren't in ' planning policy ',
Permission granted for a mahoosive mobile home / log cabin but not allowed to convert existing unused single story barn not in use . The end result would still be a wood clad residential unit and a tidier plot .
Makes no sense . Sorry rant over .

We had pre-planning advice a few years back. Changed our plans to suit what they suggested. Planning refused on what we were recommended. Did everything under permitted in the end. Almost identical to what we'd originally put forward. ££££ sent on pre planning. Planning. Architects etc.

Planning policies don’t dictate room or garden size. The price of the land dictates units built and local market dictates land prices and what size of house is needed. You cannot build high spec housing if no one can afford it because a wonderfully built high spec 2 bed is more money then the family house down the road. It’s basic housing economics.

Planning authorities adopt design standards for some areas and then totally ignore them. So basically inappropriate buildings snd conversions just happen. As for converting stables! Several converted near me in AONB and green belt. It’s the latest wheeze to get a bigger house. Build stables close to the main house. Extend main house and join it to the stables. Which of course never saw a horse in the first place. Also they aren’t built to plan. Much bigger so a nice big flat above is then what happens.

If anyone seriously thinks we will build enough housing without the large house builders: dream on. No chance.

My friend owns a barn in a field & has been applying for permission to convert it in to a house for years. She finally got PP last year with nothing different on the plans, only thousands of pounds in fees.

Years ago I was in our local planning office. A chap wanted to build brick stables. He was told it was unlikely he'd get permission, and to try for a timber one. He said surely a brick one would look better, they said, yes, but in their experience people applied for permission for brick stables as a ruse to re-apply a few years down the line for conversion to a dwelling. I could certainly see where they were coming from.
If some chancers were not continually trying to abuse the system to pull a fast one, it might become easier for the honest people amongst us to get permission to do all sorts of things.
A lot of so-called 'nimybism' is a reaction to those who bend the rules- people are wary of suporting minor inoffensive development when it is all to often a cloak for underhand large scale development further down the line. If people had confidence that planning was 'straight' and people couldn't buy or influence their way round it in the future to expand beyond what they were saying they wanted at first, they might be less 'nimby' in the first place.

It’s the inconsistency. We’ve been told we won’t get permission for our extension (as in a national park subject to additional rules). But as part of it we’d massively increase energy efficiency, and the parks authority are worried about light pollution - we’re happy to comply with their guidance for all areas of the house which would mean we’re much much darker (currently very much not). So they’d end up with a house that fulfilled their guidance when it doesn’t at the moment. But they don’t want us to make the house bigger.

Yet we’ve had a small housing estate built on the next street and a huge ‘special interest’ building (an ugly and not in keeping with the surrounding area house) built in the middle of otherwise uninterrupted views of farm and woodland.

My DH writes planning policy for a local authority for a living.
What frustrates him more than anything is that planning officers recommend applications for approval or refusal, based on sound planning advice from the policies he writes.
Then the applications go to committee and the Councillors completely disregard the recommendations of the qualified officers. Reasonable applications get refused and ludicrous ones get through and the decisions are made by people who just want to make sure they get re-elected.
Talk about a broken system…..

@TizerorFizz

'As for converting stables! Several converted near me in AONB and green belt. It’s the latest wheeze to get a bigger house. Build stables close to the main house. Extend main house and join it to the stables. Which of course never saw a horse in the first place. '

Yes god forbid people might want to better themselves or provide extra space for their family . All our old folk must suck up soulless care homes because we can't increase our living space to accommodate you . Not everyone is looking to make a fast buck for monetary gain but practical reasons .

@Teenagekicksmyass

Well he's part of the problem then . If he's writing policies far too restrictive that don't benefit anyone and stagnate progress I'm glad councillors use common sense to overrule them . I've seen planning inspectors overturn over zealous planning decisions and thank goodness there are options to appeal .
The countryside will be only for the very wealthy soon , unless you have a million at least don't even look at my road and there is no affordable housing to purchase or rent anywhere close by . It's all a mess. Good quality builds are refused yet the country is awash with the Barrett house . What an embarrassing legacy this generation will leave behind .

@hattie43
Well as houses go for £millions here, of course it’s financial gain! No old folks in any stable here. The “stables” loft (constructed higher than plans) is actually let out and another is used as offices.

We have a planning policy that generally allows stables and barns if you own enough land. We do so could get a barn. Another house has just built a barn. Watch this space!

As a former local authority planning officer - this x 100!

Yup and then all that happens in the barn mysteriously goes up in flames 2 years later to be replaced by what they wanted to build in the 1st place. I do think the country side needs protecting to the extent that if you convert a barn to residential it cannot say be sold or rented as separate property for X number of years.

@Teenagekicksmyass
In many cases the planning inspectorate overturns wrong decisions by councillors. It’s pretty usual. If councillors have been vexatious, I thought they could be fined. It definitely wastes time and money and leads to distrust. Policies are there to be adhered to and interpreted fairly.

DH has made a good living working for house builders at planning appeals. Even a case where land was in the local plan but committee denied planning permission. KCs get involved, consultants (DH) and it’s big money at stake. And homes! It’s wring to identify areas for development by public consultation and then pull them.

OP, we were advised by our architect not to bother with pre-planning (making a significant addition to a terraced house in an area with a strict council) as it’s so hit and miss.

What I found interesting is how much of a conversation it was. The planners came back to our architects and said we can’t give you ABC but if you amend your application to just XYZ we’ll give it you.

We decided to rather push for ABC, knowing they’d reject it, but go to appeal. Appeals go to a central body in Bristol who look at all appeals on a national level, so more open to rationale on that basis (E.g. we could use examples from the next Borough over that had done similar to make our case).

Just something to consider.

Ah you guys all want to move where we live, planning are so scared to turn down an application and for it to go to appeal they approve anything.
My delightful neighbours have permission for a road 5 meters from our home and a ménage just 4 metres the other side.
Road is for horse boxes, tractors to get to barn, aka 45 metre x 15 metre metal box, taller and larger than all the bungalow's surrounding.
Land height is over a foot taller than my garden PLUS they are building up the land so we've lost all privacy...they can see into 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen
They are also in breach of the planning conditions, the planning team don't care because it's now an enforcement issue, enforcement have said it's a breach but won't do anything until the development is finished when they invite neighbours to submit retrospective planning for all the breach's....it gets better, because planning have already said any issues from the development so close to residential properties (there's 4 homes backing onto the development) then becomes an environmental team issue!!
Talk about passing the buck on this and to hell with neighbors!!

Appeal inspectors must base decisions on local plans and policies unless in the national interest. They don’t adopt the policies of a different area and work on that. We are on the edge of AONB. A few miles away no AONB. Planning Inspectors must follow AONB policies where we live. There is some interpretation around the edges. HS2 on the other hand, is going through the AONB with carnage to the countryside. That’s in the national interest, laughably, but you won’t get permission for a house on your large garden here. Or even a large extension. AONB policies are draconian for home owners. A few miles away, do what you want. More or less!