BCP Council (Poole): Matt Annen, a director of the firm is ecstatic to have secured the first prior approval in BCP Council for the upwards extension of an existing block of flats under Class A of Part 20 of Schedule
2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended). This Prior Approval process only came in to force in September 2020 and whilst as a firm we have assessed many potential sites for compliance with this newly adopted legislation, this site and building was the first that ticked all the boxes.

The application site comprised of a three-storey apartment block which currently houses 6 large flats with an underground parking level. The approval is for two additional floors which will increase the number of flats on the site to nine. The additional flats will consist of 2 x 2 bed units and 1 x 3 bed penthouse unit. The scheme was designed by local firm Dot Architecture for a mutual client.

The principle issues for consideration in this case relate to whether the proposed development meets the limitations and conditions under Class A of Part 20 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended), and whether prior approval of the Local Planning Authority is
required as to:
· Transport and highway impacts of the development;
· air traffic and defence asset impact of the development;
· contamination risks in relation to the building;
· flooding risks in relation to the building;
· the external appearance of the building
· the provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the new dwellinghouses;
· impact on the amenity of the existing building and neighbouring premises including overlooking, privacy and the loss of light

Pure Town Planning presented a robust supporting Design, Access and Planning Statement which justified compliance with the aforementioned criteria. To demonstrate that the scheme would not result in overshadowing or loss of light on adjoining apartment blocks, dwellings and townhouses, Pure Town Planning enrolled the help of HDS Greentech to provide a supporting Daylight Analysis which concluded that that the proposed two additional floors would not cause an excessive loss of light or overshadowing to adjoining properties due to spatial relationships, land gradients and distance of separation.

If you are wondering whether your block of flats, commercial building or even your own house would comply with the newly adopted Prior Approval regulations in relation to additional floors, then look no further. Talk to a firm of planning consultants today who have “been there and done that” – contact us to find out how we can help you.