Recent content by Guy Paremain

In 1980 the council issued an outline planning permission stating the following: The dwelling hereby permitted shall not exceed one storey in height. The council have just given permission to extend the bungalow by adding two floors. Is the council permitted to overrule its earlier stipulation ...

Thanks, really helpful reply. If my neighbours were required to reapply for full permission the officer would not be able to act independently, the committee would need to debate the plans.

I would have lobbied the local councillor but the planning officer that did the site visit said that the number of representations received would prompt referral to committee.....his boss felt that different rules applied and granted permission!! Game over.

if they should and they don't, who can intervene ? Are councils accountable to anyone other than the electorate ?

Possibly, but despite your confidence there is a third option !

Our Councils Solicitor and the Ombudsman have interpreted their constitution as allowing an officer to determine all Householder applications. So, as long as the officer likes minarets that shouldn't be a problem. Objectors of course have no right to appeal his decision.

Not so in our borough...all householder applications determined by the officer..they say

The form used does make a difference. The planning officer is able to determine all Householder applications irrespective of the number of material objections. A Full application that attracts objections has to go before the planning development committee.

Thanks for your comment. I understood that a Householder application is for an "extension" or "works" to an existing dwelling. Certainly our local council provides different forms for Householder and Full applications. I would argue that to demolish and rebuild is not the same as to extend...

I would be grateful for an opinion on the following. The owner of a Bungalow has used a "Householder" application to gain permission to "extend" his dwelling. The roof is to be raised, an additional two habitable floors are to be constructed. 1) If the existing structure is in fact demolished...