November News

Welcome to the first of what I intend to become regular posts.

November has brought much new business, with a number of instructions for commercial proposals along with the customary flow of appeals and paperwork that grace our business.

The Lloyds of Abergele (no relation) were delighted to return from holiday early in the month to news that we had won their appeal to extend their house after at least 2 or three previous attempts to get permission It was our intervention that lead to a revised strategy and success for the scheme they wanted in the first instance.

Back in September, Wrexham Council refused permission for the conversion of a clients vacant pub into 5 houses, despite a very firm recommendation to grant from officers. That's now at appeal and will keep you posted.

Was delighted to attend planning committee earlier this week where Mr Ireland's application to re-develop the former Dingle Garage site in Llandudno Junction was approved. The only downside was calling with the good news to be told the prospective purchasers had pulled out of a deal to buy the site with permission. Sure sign of the times and not helped I'm sure by the planning department being a little  slow getting it to a committee. I'll touch on this in my next post.

I'm  delighted to been recommended by a previous client and to have made contact with Union-Architecture.  Now working with them and the development team to present a Care Home application in Abergele. A tight schedule that demands a pre-Christmas application submission and a lot of work for all. Interestingly the site is on the North Wales Business Park, where our work for Spire HealthCare a couple of years ago led to the first non-B1 use permitted on the land and paved the way for other new employment uses.

In the next few days we'll be submitting proposals for a new clubhouse at the Silver Birch Golf Course near Colwyn Bay. The BR Architecture designed scheme is complete and well post some 3d visuals for you all to see shortly.

The public sector remains an area we undertake work and have recently secured two instructions to act at Appeal for Flintshire Council. We have a hearing in the middle of the month and have begun work  on a Public Inquiry which will take place in early 2013.

We use the planning portal for all our submissions as this speeds up application processes, cuts costs to you through electronic rather than paper-based document delivery. Clients directly benefit from reduced costs and  We are hoping to secure 'Smarter Planning' accreditation when that is rolled out shortly working with our various partners in development teams. Again will keep you posted

November has been a very busy time in the Welsh Assembly for planning and economic development. Hot on the heels of a new chapter 7 for Planning Policy Wales, was a general revision to reflect its duties to deliver sustainable development and then ministerial statement.  A Techncial Advice Note is to follow next year.

The main change is to take a much wider approach to economic development recognising how for example leisure, infrastructure or tourism development brings tangible economic benefits and that proper weight should be given to them as economic drivers as well as the more traditional business type classes. I expect we will see much more focus being given to economic benefits at appeals- the aim of course being to secure you permission without an appeal.

Well post an update on PPW very shortly.

Pete