Author Archives: MichaelWellock

Self Build: Don’t Leave Planning Until Too Late

Self Build housing is very much in the news, particularly with the extra support it is being given by central government. And many people after watching TV shows such as Grand Designs see Self Build as the perfect way of building their dream home. And if you are thinking of Self Build one thing you must get right in the earliest stages is planning permission. Over the years we have come across many people who have found what they think is the right location for their dream home, bought the land, and engaged an architect to prepare designs only to find out that they cannot obtain planning permission. This may be because it is in Green Belt, or other protected open … Continue reading

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Land Banking Costs Investors £200 million

  The Financial Services Authority estimates land banking has cost investors £200 million. Land banking schemes involve land owners dividing up their land and selling plots on to investors – with the hope that these plots will have significant development value. Unfortunately many of these plots are in areas where development, even in the very long term, is unlikely to happen. this is because they are in Green Belt and other areas protected by UK planning policy. As a result UK authorities have shut down many of these scams. To avoid being a victim of such a scam seek independent planning advice from RTPI chartered town planners. If you are looking to invest in land and want to avoid being … Continue reading

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Air Source Heat Pumps and Planning

Generating energy from renewable sources is good for the environment and good for your pocket as a householder.  But if you are thinking of installing an air source heat pump do you need planning permission or not? To find out if you do read on, or call Claire on 01282 872570. Renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar and hydropower, offer clean alternatives to fossil fuels. They produce little or no pollution or greenhouse gases, and they will never run out. This fifth guide will concentrate on air source heat pumps.  Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems, or warm air convectors and hot water … Continue reading

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Biomass Boilers and Combined Heat and Power Systems and the Planning System

Generating energy from renewable sources is good for the environment and good for your pocket as a householder.  But if you are thinking of installing a Biomass Boiler or Combined Heat and Power System do you need planning permission or not? To find out if you do read on, or call Claire on 01282 872570. Wood-fuelled heating systems, also called biomass systems, burn wood pellets, chips or logs to provide warmth in a single room or to power central heating and hot water boilers.  stove burns logs or pellets to heat a single room – and may be fitted with a back boiler to provide water heating as well. And a boiler burns logs, pellets or chips, and is connected to a … Continue reading

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Ground Source Heat Pumps and Water Source Heat Pumps and Planning

Generating energy from renewable sources is good for the environment and good for your pocket as a householder.  But if you are thinking of installing a ground source heat pump or water source heat pump do you need planning permission or not? To find out if you do read on, or call Claire on 01282 872570. Ground source heat pumps use pipes which are buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor or warm air heating systems and hot water in your home.  A ground source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe – called a ground loop – which is buried in … Continue reading

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Wind Turbines and the Planning System

Generating energy from renewable sources is good for the environment and good for your pocket as a householder.  But if you are thinking of installing a wind turbine do you need planning permission or not? To find out if you do read on, or call Claire on 01282 872570. Within The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2011 Part 40 relating to the “Installation of Domestic Microgeneration Equipment” includes Class H and I which relate to the installation of wind turbines within the curtilage of a dwelling house. Class H gives householders “permitted development rights” to install wind turbines on houses without planning permission in some instances.  There are 12 criteria and 4 conditions which the installation has … Continue reading

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Solar PV and Planning

Generating energy from renewable sources is good for the environment and good for your pocket as a householder.  But do you need planning permission if you are thinking of installing solar panels? To find out if you do read on, or call Claire on 01282 872570. Within The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2011, Part 40 relating to the “Installation of Domestic Microgeneration Equipment” includes Class A and B which relate to the installation of solar panels within the curtilage of a dwelling house. So the answer really depends on whether your proposed development is already permitted development or not. Class A gives householders “permitted development rights” to install solar photovoltaics (PV) without planning permission on a … Continue reading

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Neighbourhood Planning News Winter 2012 Edition Out Now!

The Winter edition of Kirkwells’ Neighbourhood Planning News can be downloaded now. With news on: Funding; Neighbourhood plans in Thame, Branston and Stretton; Community Engagement; Resources; and Training. Click here to download your copy of Neighbourhood Planning News Issue 7 Winter 2012. To receive future copies of Kirkwells’ Neighbourhood Planning News subscribe. To find out more about about how Kirkwells can support your neighbourhood plan visit our web page, or download our leaflet Or if you would like to discuss how we could support you  in preparing a plan for your neighbourhood plan email Michael or Louise, or call: 01282 872570   ©Kirkwells Town Planners and Sustainable Development Consultants based at the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre in Burnley www.kirkwells.co.uk Research • Planning … Continue reading

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The Kirkwells’ Pig Ugly Awards

Never one’s to shy away from having a bit of fun, and with the end of the year in sight, Planning Minister Nick Boles has given us a great idea: The Kirkwells’ Pig Ugly Awards. What, you may well be saying? Well, our Planning Minister introduced a key new term in to the architectural lexicon. One to sit alongside Prince Charles’s  “monstrous carbuncle”: pig ugly. So just how far do you have to sink to get the Minister’s Pig Ugly Award? Nick Boles’ benchmark is, step forward, Harrison’s Wharf, in Purfleet. We make no comment: Harrison’s Wharf, Purfleet (Source) Courtesy: primelocation.com So to celebrate all that is pig ugly in the world of planning, architecture and design we have decided to hold the … Continue reading

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Harrogate, Lido Leisure Park, Knaresborough Consultation

  Harrogate Council is consulting on an additional site for growth – Land at Lido Leisure Park, Knaresborough. This site had not previously been considered in the preferred options consultation which took place between September and November 2011. Before the site can be considered by the council as suitable for housing or employment, a separate consultation needs to be undertaken to determine whether it can become an option in the local plan. The existing land is used as a caravan park but its proposed use is for both market and affordable housing. The land has the capacity for 300 dwellings, however, at this stage it is unclear whether the land owner would like to see the entire site developed or … Continue reading

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