Opposing app for planning permission

penguine

Our freeholder wants to build 3 flats on top of our block. I have looked at the plans and the flats are tiny, with virtually no storage place and barely room to swing a feline. I have ulterior motives (too long to go into) for opposing their application for planning permission, but I also honestly feel that these flats are likely to be poor quality and are not needed in our area, which already has a large number of flats many of which are standing empty.

How can I go about finding vacancy stats for flats in my neighbourhood to back up my statement opposing this development?

daveyjp

The number of empty properties is not a valid reason to object to planning permission - whether to build them is a commercial decision for the freeholder.

Planning permission is valid for three years so allowing for build time it could be almost 4 years before these are built. He may not want build, he may want to sell the block with benefit of a valid planning permission.

The UK has no minimum space standards for residential properties, so that's not valid either.

Design, massing, traffic generation, environmental problems, the development is against planning policies are all valid reasons to object.

pixiepie99

Sounds like it may be refused on grounds of overdevelopment. It's worth checking your local authority's planning policies (unitary development plan and any housing guidance) to see if they have any policies regarding parking standards, minimum sizes for flats and types/sizes of dwellling in your area.

For example, there are very few "family" sized houses in my area (3 bed and above) so applications to subdivide large houses into flats are usually refused and the majority of new houses that are built in the area/have been given permission are 3 bed houses and bigger.

penguine

Thank you for the replies. The application doesn't include any parking spaces but they are arguing that because local transport links are very good they're not necessary.

Does anyone know whether there's an argument against them because they don't have disabled access -- there is no lift in our block and entry to these will be via a narrow external staircase only.

I do suspect that they don't actually intend to build them. The freeholder is a mortgage company not a property developer and I think they plan to sell off the freehold soon.

pixiepie99

No, I don't think disabled access would need to be provided in this case - they would just have to show they'd done what they could to comply with DDA. However, if the only access to the property is by an external staircase to the rear of the property, there might be an argument that it could be a target for crime. Why don't you give your local planning authority a call and have a chat with the case officer?