New Forest District Council: Darryl Howells, a director of the firm is pleased to secure planning permission for a triple garage to serve a dwelling at Damerham near Fordingbridge, Hampshire.  On the face of it not a major title success, however this case does show the extent of work that our consultants go too, in order to secure planning permission irrespective of the size of the scheme.

The client first approached Darryl after receiving a notice of a planning application for another triple garage.  The Local Planning Authority (LPA) had refused the scheme on the grounds that (i) it would harm the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Nature Beauty (AONB) due to its size, scale, height and massing; and (ii) harm the roots of protected trees by reason of the building’s position.

Having considered the reasons for refusal, Darryl advised the client to try to reduce the size of the garage but the overriding need for the garage was for the client to store his collection of classic cars and therefore the manoeuvring space (in terms of width, depth and height) reduction was limited.  The planning officer reacted with negativity as the scheme substantially reflected that of the first scheme.  The planning officer wanted the garage to be reduced to a 2 car garage before a positive recommendation would be given.

As Darryl has and is a pro-active problem solver, Darryl negotiated and convinced the officer that the size of the triple garage was actually acceptable and that the impact to the AONB would not be as harmful as first determined.

To resolve the second reason for refusal, Darryl engaged the services of Richard Nicholson, the arboricultural consultant (www.rnapc.co.uk) to provide an arboricultural statement that provided the evidence the LPA sought.  During the consideration of the tree implications, the Council’s arboricultural officer started asking questions about the structural elements of the foundations and the slab level which Darryl and Richard Nicholson were able to resolve in part.   The outstanding matter of structural logics was resolved by the instruction of a structural engineer.

After 4 months of negotiation, the planning officer finally recommended the scheme for approval, and that decision was issued using the officer’s delegated powers.   The client is very pleased with the outcome and the effect that Darryl put into the scheme to secure the decision. As it was mentioned earlier, not a ‘show-stopping’ scheme but every application is important to us and irrespective of which consultant is instructed from Pure Town Planning, that consultant will make every effort to negotiate and succeed the successful outcome for our clients. 

If we can help you on any project big or small, then please contact one of our consultants.