Planning - Wandsworth Council 'to remove permitted development rights' from its pubs.
2016
With thanks to Stephen Brooker (Walsingham Planning) who reports that the London Borough of Wandsworth is seeking to introduce an Article 4 direction to almost wholly remove permitted development rights for pubs in the Borough.
Using the justification of an SPD (Supplementary Planning Document), that Walsinghams believe to be fatally flawed (and a Committee report that fails to tell Members about the compensation liability), Wandsworth want to remove all change of use rights, demolition, maintenance of boundary treatments and even painting the exterior.
Stephen Brooker comments – ‘What have we come to – did the architects of the great 1947 Planning Act really have it in mind to require a planning application to be made when you want to mend your fence, mend your gate hinges or re-paint your windows? We do not agree with removing change of use rights but at least we can understand their desire to act, albeit they have produced no proper justification or Committee authority – but to mend the fence!!?
Everyone in the leisure industry should sit up and take note, the LB Wandsworth action has been reported in the Planning Press and in the Evening Standard – so other Councils might get the same ideas’.
Objections can be made up to 12 September using consurbdesign@wandsworth.gov.uk
Walsingham Planning are objecting on behalf of pub clients; they ask for support!