Topic: | Re:Re:Re:492-496 CHR - developers sent an application for an additional floor to be erected | |
Posted by: | Sam Hearn | |
Date/Time: | 27/04/15 11:26:00 |
"Existing residents feelings, worries and concerns are rarely taken into account." Planning decisions are based on planning law, regulations, guidance and local plans. These aim to strike a balance between an owner's desire to " enjoy" their property and the legitimate rights of neighbours and the wider community. The basic starting point of planning law has always been that an owner should be able to build on/develop their own property. Councillors charged with making planning decisions who ignore the legal framework within which they operate for some short term political advantage seldom do anything more than delay or at best modify the schemes (that otherwise are fully compliant) put before them. If an application is won on appeal the Council i.e. all council tax payers, end up footing the bill of both the the applicant and the Council. Bad schemes need to be vigorously opposed but residents should seek to understand the frame work within which decisions are made before criticising either Planning Officers or elected Councillors for applying the rules in an unbiased way. Changes made by the current Government have freed up the ability of all Councillors and not just those on Planning Committees to oppose (or support) planning proposals that they deem "poor quality" or "damaging". Ultimately Planning Committee members are often called upon to make judgements of Solomon but without the benefit of having a large and very sharp sword. |