Location:
West Berkshire Council
Issue:
Addressing refusal of previous full planning permission for conversion
How we helped and added value:
Our client approached us to assist following the refusal of their full planning application to convert three buildings into residential. The Council had refused the application on the basis that the buildings were not structurally sound and capable of being converted (which is a requirement of the Council’s conversion policy). Based on a review of the merits of the case, we advised on a two part strategy: one, to appeal the decision, and two, to utilise permitted development rights to secure the approval of the conversion of two of the buildings from light industrial buildings into residential.
Alongside the appeal, we made an application to the Council for the permitted development conversion and successfully argued that that the structural integrity of the buildings is not a factor that the Council could refuse the application on as part of the prior approval considerations. We also addressed all other relevant considerations in the application. The Council’s approval of this application means that our client has permission for two of the three buildings to be converted, a fact which has also been used as an argument in support of the ongoing appeal.
