Winning a planning appeal is not just about the victory itself, although obviously that’s the object of the exercise.
It can also be an opportunity for our Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset planning consultants to help clients to reduce their costs.
James Cain’s latest appeal win – this time in Calne, Wiltshire – is an example of the extra value that a highly experienced planning consultant can help bring to the table.
Developers called in Coles Miller after planners turned down an application to convert an unused storeroom at a pub into one-bedroomed dwelling.
The property lies within the Calne Conservation Area which is home to many 17th and 18th century buildings.
Despite the modest scale of the proposals, planners objected on two grounds:
- pressure upon on-street parking
- the client had not made an offsite financial contribution towards open space facilities (the client later offered to do so).
The planners’ objections highlight two worrying trends:
- increased pressure on brownfield sites (which are becoming ever more scarce)
- local authorities’ growing determination to find ways of forcing the private sector to contribute to the cost of preserving and maintaining public facilities.
James appealed on behalf of the client, successfully arguing that the development would not have a detrimental impact on parking.
He was also able to save the client money by getting the open spaces contribution reduced by thousands of pounds to just over one-third of the sum originally envisaged.
For more information, please contact our Planning Consultant James Cain, 01202 673011.
