The Human Element - Amanda Burden

 

The job of the Rural Planning Department is quite diverse advising on all matters from a 28 day determination for an agricultural building, to barn conversions, agricultural dwellings and for a variety of diversification projects throughout the Westcountry.

 

Living in turmoil
Over the last few years since the government changed the Town and Country Planning Act we have been living in turmoil as Local Authorities have struggled to prepare new LDFs (Local Development Frameworks) to replace their often quite outdated Local Plans.

 

A common sense approach
However, although it is clearly beneficial to be in line with policy for a project and therefore meet the Local Plan/LDF policies, this factor is often irrelevant to our clients who may wish to pursue the proposal/project regardless of whether it is in line with the particular policies. Indeed by their very nature many diversification projects will never be quite in line with policies and need a common sense approach to help them reach reality.

 

We see all the time that policies are merely guidance as no policy however detailed can cover every scenario and therefore what is written as a "black and white" policy is sometimes very grey.

 

A thorough application can make the difference between success and failure
This is when our experience and knowledge of the planning system comes to life as we prepare an application demonstrating that the project does fit with policy.

 

We tend to "front load" our applications with very detailed supporting information so that Planning Officers really have to think twice about refusing the application as we demonstrate that something they thought does not comply with policy, actually does !

 

Time spent preparing a thorough, complete and well presented application can make the difference between success and failure.

 

A complicated process
The decision making process of the planning system is extremely complicated, but if you understand it as we do, you can get the most out of it.

 

Whilst most applications get decided by the Planning Officer dealing with the application and sometimes signed off by the Local elected Ward Councillor, it is often possible to get applications (that the Planning Officer may want to refuse) to be determined by the Planning Committee.

 

Although Planning Policy tends to make no provision for personal circumstances or trading, the Planning Committee made up of elected Members will often see the human element of a case, looking from a local angle and giving a degree of compassion.

 

If you have a particular project that you have long held a passion to develop and wish to discuss, please just pick up the telephone or send an email and we can see if we can help make your dreams come true.

 

 

 

Amanda Burden BSc (Hons), FAAV, MBIAC
Partner: Agricultural & Rural Planning
D: 01803 869911  M: 07971 224881
E: amanda.burden@luscombemaye.com