August 2009 Newsletter

Graham Penny Auctions

Owing to the success of the 9th July auction, PDP have arranged to attend the following Graham Penny auctions in 2009:

3rd September - Pride Park, Derby

15th October - Pride Park, Derby

3rd December - Pride Park, Derby

If you're attending any of the above-mentioned auctions, please don't hesitate to approach our exhibition stand for free planning advice in relation to any planning matters.

August 2009 Newsletter

Question and Answer



Question

I have seen a property at auction, a lovely stone barn in the National Park with superb views and a good sized garden with planning permission for conversion into a holiday let. I want to buy it as a second home; what are the implications and, if I need to get planning permission for full use as a dwelling what are my chances?

Mr S. Kimble, Chesterfield


Answer

In most National Parks there are strong planning policies to prevent new dwellings being built or converted in the countryside away from towns and villages. But the park authorities have to balance this requirement with the need to maintain traditional buildings in the countryside in order to protect the character of the National Park. Allowing the conversion of traditional buildings into holiday lets is seen as a way of doing this while stimulating the local economy. In this instance, the use of the property is limited by condition and by a Section 106 Agreement which prevents the property from being lived in for more than 42 days a year by the same person or family. If you buy the property as your first house you will quickly breach the condition and the legal agreement. The condition also requires you to keep a register of all lettings. If you are happy to let the property, visiting in between lets, using it as a second home, it may work for you. Capital growth in the property will be limited by the condition and the Agreement, and this should be reflected in the purchase price.

There is very little chance that the Park Authority will allow unrestricted residential occupation, so the barn should not be considered as a future home. If the property was occupied as a dwelling and the Park Authority took enforcement action, the occupants could be evicted. The legal agreement provides a quick method for the Authority to take action if it wants to. The legal agreement is not subject to any time limits, so occupation of the property as a permanent dwelling will always be liable to enforcement action unless the agreement is lifted.


Jonathan Jenkin BA(Hons) BTP MRTPI

August 2009 Newsletter

Sun Room Extension Approved in Conservation Area

Planning Consent was recently obtained for the construction of a sun room extension in a sensitive Conservation Area location. Although the property had been subject to previous extensions, PDP successfully argued that the proposal would not materially harm the character or appearance of either the existing dwelling or the Conservation Area.

August 2009 Newsletter

Approval for Green Belt extension on basis of overall enhancement

PDP recently secured planning consent to extend a property in the Nottingham – Derby Green Belt despite the fact that the property was subject to a previous refusal for a much smaller extension. A new design was proposed that sought to add symmetry and balance to the existing property, thus enhancing its appearance. Following negotiations with planning officers the local authority agreed that the overall impact of the proposed extension was acceptable.

We are branching out!

Due to growing work demands the Planning Design Practice is expanding to a second office within the East Midlands region.

The company is targeting the areas South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and North Derbyshire, and an office located within the Chesterfield area is anticipated in the near future.

Please feel free to contact the Derby office if you have any planning or design related queries within these areas.

Regular updates will be included in our monthly newsletters.

June 2009 Newsletter

Sustainable Building Codes & Lifetime Homes – Development in Allestree, Derby

We have been commissioned to prepare proposals for the redevelopment of a large corner plot within a 1960s residential area in Derby. The brief is to increase values by developing housing which is attractive to the market but offers future residents significant advantages over current market offerings.

The area is popular with older residents, the area is quiet but with good access to a range of services and facilities. Using the new sustainable building codes and Lifetime Homes Standards, we have devised a set of proposals for 5 two/three bedroom dormer properties targeted at the over 55s with allocated parking, private and shared open space.

The design ethos is modern, with high quality finishes. Each property is designed with a ground floor bedroom and disabled bathroom or shower room and a large open plan kitchen/living space. On the first floor are a further two bedrooms and a bathroom. The buildings will be highly insulated, using block cavity wall and external insulated cladding. The windows will be timber but triple glazed and low maintenance; water use will be kept low by re-using clean roof water for gardens, toilets and washing machines. All appliances & lighting will be low energy and there is the option to incorporate either solar water heating or PV. Each property will have a gas or wood burning stove to provide a focal point and the buildings will incorporate full gas central heating. Energy use will be low, at about a third of current average levels.

The buildings will meet Sustainable Building Code Level 4 and Lifetime homes standard. The lifetime Homes Standard will ensure flexible accommodation suitable for occupiers as they get older. Parking spaces will for instance be wide enough to allow wheelchair users to access vehicles. The site has only a gentle slope, and with an open permeable layout, the development will encourage social interaction.

The aim is to provide a blueprint for future housing developments, housing which is adaptable in a world of diminishing natural resources

June 2009 Newsletter

Consent obtained for replacement shop front in conservation area



PDP recently secured planning consent for the replacement of an incongruous 1980s shop front with one of a more traditional design, at a fine art gallery in Derby’s City Centre Conservation Area.

The works will be carried out as part of a wider scheme to improve historic buildings in the Conservation Area, for which grant funding has been made available.

The design for the new shop front was informed by an assessment of the history of the building and surrounding area, and agreed informally with grant administrators and city council officers prior to the submission of the application.

In the absence of clear photographic evidence of former shop fronts at the premises, a simple but conventional design was favoured, incorporating the materials and component features of traditional shop fronts but taking its design cues predominantly from the existing building.

The proposed shop front, which will be constructed of painted timber, will incorporate a narrow fascia with individually mounted lettering, pilasters complete with pilaster bases, console brackets and cornicing, a brick stall riser topped with a timber cill, a central window display with central timber mullion, two recessed, traditional style doors with fan lights above, and an awning.

We look forward to seeing the installation of the shop front and with it the further enhancement of the Conservation Area.