Dawlish Discussion

So, I know I’ve already referred to this issue on another thread https://dawlish.com/thread/details/47126  but I thought I would start a new one specifically dedicated to the changes and how these changes may impact Dawlish.

Briefly, this is what the planning regime will look like wef September 2020.

• More types of commercial premises having total flexibility to be repurposed through reform of the Use Classes Order. A building used for retail, for instance, would be able to be permanently used as a café or office without requiring a planning application and local authority approval. Pubs, libraries, village shops and other types of uses essential to the lifeblood of communities will not be covered by these flexibilities.
•  
• A wider range of commercial buildings will be allowed to change to residential use without the need for a planning application.
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• Builders will no longer need a normal planning application to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential and commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes.
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• Property owners will be able to build additional space above their properties via a fast track approval process, subject to neighbour consultation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-build-build-build

There is a planning application presently going through TDC's planning system regarding adding an extra storey to a bungalow. From looking at the planning documents I see that the town council is recommending refusal and the neighbours don't seem too pleased about it either.

Question: Come next month could this go ahead anyway? Will the proposal to expand the property upwards by one storey need planning consent? Will it be a tick box fast track approval type of planning consent? (see above post).

Even though the neighbours have been 'consulted' and those that have responded haven't exactly been positive will it be the case that wef next month that the right to add another storey will trump the objections of those living in neighbouring properties? 

DAWLISH - 22 Southdowns Road, Dawlish Proposal: Raising of roof to facilitate first floor accommodation, single storey and two storey extensions, garage extension, porch, fenestration changes and associated works Applicant: Ms K Myers & Mr A Haytread Web Link: https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/planning/forms/planning-application-details/?Type=Application&Refval=20/00741/FUL&MN=Y         

"A wider range of commercial buildings will be allowed to change to residential use without the need for a planning application".

So come next month will this potential conversion, considered at the most recent Dawlish Town Council planning committee meeting, need a planning application/consent or could it just er.......... happen?   

PARISH: DAWLISH WARD: Dawlish North East APPLICATION REF: 20/01081/FUL LOCATION: Former Jeannie of Knightsbridge 2 Iddesleigh Terrace Dawlish Devon EX7 9HS PROPOSAL: Change of use of ground floor to a flat and associated works Comment: RESOLVED unanimously by Members present and voting that this Council recommends REFUSAL of this application as the design of the frontage and window is not in keeping with the character of the building or area. However, members wished to note that they did not object to the principle of the development or change of use and would support a revision of the application should the design and architecture of the frontage and window be more appropriate and in keeping with the conversation area.

"Builders will no longer need a normal planning application to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential and commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes".

Would the site of the Daw Vale Care Home along Westcliff fall under this category?

I believe I heard yesterday that the government is saying developers will not need to provide any form of Affordable Housing provision (dwellings built on site or money towards them being built elsewhere) if the development comprises less than 50 dwellings. 

A brief history of the Daw Vale Care Home site;

Daw Vale closed 2015

Site sold 2016

Planning application to develop the site in 2017. The application was for 14 dwellings. Development did not happen as developer said the need to build a proportion of Affordable Homes made the project unviable.   

Second planning application submitted to develop the site in 2018 for 18 dwellings. This application was withdrawn and to my knowledge not resubmitted.  

@ right now. Site not redeveloped. Is it an eyesore? I haven't been along Westcliff for a while.

Just checked. Correct about the proposed reduction in AH requirement for small developers. See pages 26-28 of the consultation document. Click here https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-current-planning-system

Consultation closes 11.45pm 1st October 2020

But you still need planning permission  for a tree house. I think i will get my red shoes out of the loft and tap them together 3 times and get the hell out of here. I am just waiting for the ufo's and unicorns to appear next. A little off subject but i think a few may get my point.

So let's get this right:  you can go up in the loft and put a protruding dormer window in the rear roof affording views over neighbours gardens and quite possibly into their bedrooms without planning permission courtesy of permitted development rights granted in 2013.

And wef next month it is likely that anyone can add a storey or two to their dwelling with a minimum of planning dept involvement plus tick box consultation (or more likely 'consultation') with neighbours and the windows of these new storey(s) may well invade the privacy of neighbours.

But you still need planning permission for a tree house!?

At the last Dawlish Town Council meeting, held earlier this month, Cllr Gary Taylor (who is also a Teignbridge District Councillor and the portfolio holder for planning) said that he would be updating the town councillors at the next full council meeting (being held in October) about the proposed changes by central government to the English planning system.   

For clarity: there were changes to the planning regulations made by government which came into effect beginning of last month (1.9.20)

There has also been a consultation on further changes to the planning system (number of houses deemed to be required by central government and not the number deemed to be required by each local authority please note) and how land should be zoned for development (or not as the case may be). The results of these consultations have yet to be made public.

However, the planning changes that have already been made by central government (see my very first post on this thread) have now been in operation for the past month (started 1.9.20).

I have been trying to find out how they may impact Teignbridge in general and Dawlish in particular but so far to no avail.  

I imagine (would sincerely hope so!) that the planning department at TDC will have more idea of what these new regs mean in practice.

So I would strongly suggest to anyone thinking of taking advantage of these new regs to contact TDC planning department in the first instance.

And if you do so perhaps you could let the rest of us know what the TDC planners advice is. 

Ta.

See my very first post on this thread - last sentence regarding owners building an extra storey on properties.

Just been looking at an Appeal document submitted by planners at TDC  regarding this issue (see https://dawlish.com/thread/details/47069) . This is what they say: (my emphasis in bold).

"A (enlargement of a dwellinghouse by construction of additional storeys) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2020 which came into force on 31 August 2020 and permits the enlargement of a dwellinghouse consisting of the construction of one additional storey, where the existing dwellinghouse consists of one storey, as permitted development. Nevertheless, one of the conditions of this permitted development right is that: Before beginning the development, the developer must apply to the local planning authority for prior approval as to— (i)impact on the amenity of any adjoining premises including overlooking, privacy and the loss of light; (ii)the external appearance of the dwellinghouse, including the design and architectural features of— (aa)the principal elevation of the dwellinghouse, and (bb)any side elevation of the dwellinghouse that fronts a highway."