We were appointed to assess the conversion of an existing office building into residential apartments. This form of development is made possible through Permitted Development Rights, a central government planning legislation that allows certain types of development and changes of use to take place without the need for full planning permission, provided specific criteria are met.
Permitted Development is intended to streamline the planning process and provide greater certainty for property owners, while limiting the matters local authorities can consider as part of the approval process.
At the initial stage, the local authority advised that additional reports, including a noise assessment and transport plan, would be required. Following a detailed review of the legislation, we confirmed that these documents were not applicable to this proposal under Permitted Development regulations.
After completing a site survey and preparing a fully compliant submission, the proposal was submitted as a Permitted Development application. Approval was subsequently granted on the same day that the local authority withdrew its Article 4 direction, which would otherwise have removed Permitted Development rights for the site.
Permission granted..
