Playing the planning game
I recently had cause to speak at a planning committee meeting for the first time since my own self-build project, 15 years ago. The memories came flooding back and I left feeling just as dejected as I did back then. The system has barely changed − it’s as self-serving as it ever was. I won’t bore you with all the details, but a local land owner has applied for planning consent for a couple of plots opposite my home. As a self-builder I welcome this, but the sites are at the end of a long narrow lane with absolutely no turning head for vehicles on the planning drawings, which I don’t agree with at all.
Why is this an important issue? Because turning heads are a building control requirement, not a planning necessity. Due to the fact that the two departments don’t speak to each other, planning was approved – but whoever buys the plots will face the headache of trying to comply with the regs, which will be very difficult. It was clear to me that the committee had made up its mind about the result beforehand, and simply voted it through. I had my three minutes to speak, but no one was listening, despite my pointing out the clear breach they were endorsing. They were more focused on whether I kept within the three-minute time limit. However, none of this was a surprise to me because I’ve seen it all before.