kirkstoneit
Member
- Messages
- 3
Hi,
I was hoping someone may be able to offer some advice on a situation involving my local council planning department.
My flat is on the 2nd floor of a grade 2 listed building, within a conservation area in Newcastle upon Tyne. At the front of the flat there are large sash windows facing onto a busy city centre street. These windows have had secondary glazing added in accordance with planning regulations. This is fine. The back of the flat is more complicated.
The 2 sash windows and the door at the back of the flat face onto an area which is not accessible to the public. Nor can the public see any of the back of the flat. A couple of years back a shopping centre was built right outside the back of my flat. Whilst the area to the back of my flat is still not open to the public I did notice security guards occasionally walking past. This was no problem. More recently a takeaway shop has been added to the shopping centre. The back door of this takeaway shop backs on to the area behind my flat and there is a passage which leads to a fire door onto the busy street at the front. The problem is that that passage is being used as the staff entrance to the shop and for deliveries etc. I have also had to call the shopping centre security a couple of times because I’ve seen people in that area drinking etc. To get into my flat from that area would be very easy and this concerns me given that a) staff working in the takeaway could see how easy it would be to get in b) the fire door could be left open (presumably as it has been previously) and people could get in. The door at the back of my flat is single glazed and made of quite old thin wood. I could brake in my self in seconds - even if the locks were good - you could just brake the door or the glass. This is where I have had a problem with the council planning department.
I haven’t submitted any applications yet but two ladies from the council visited my flat in order to discuss the changes that I would like to make. We agreed that the windows could be draught proofed and secondary glazed similar to those at the front. The difficulty as that the council are insisting that I retain the original fabric of the door. It does appear to be an original door but a) nobody can see it - or is likely to again given its location b) it poses a huge security risk for me and is causing me unease when I go away. I cant secondary glaze it as it needs to be opened and closed. I would like to replace it with a stronger door which is more secure but the council are adamant they wont move on their decision. They have advised that if I submit an application to replace the door they will reject it and that they think that an appeal would also be rejected.
It seems unfair that given that I have abided by the councils regs on all other doors and windows, they aren’t willing to be a little flexible on the door. It is the council who gave planning permission for the shopping centre to built right outside. There seems to have been no consideration into the impact it would have on my property when that decision was made. This has in turn caused me a huge security risk then they refuse me planning permission to attempt to counter it.
So I’m asking if anyone has an opinion or can on offer any advice on a) are the council following correct procedure here? b) are the ladies from the council correct in their opinion that an appeal would be rejected? c?) is there anything else I can realistically do?
Let me know if any more details are needed.
Many thanks in advance.
Chris H
I was hoping someone may be able to offer some advice on a situation involving my local council planning department.
My flat is on the 2nd floor of a grade 2 listed building, within a conservation area in Newcastle upon Tyne. At the front of the flat there are large sash windows facing onto a busy city centre street. These windows have had secondary glazing added in accordance with planning regulations. This is fine. The back of the flat is more complicated.
The 2 sash windows and the door at the back of the flat face onto an area which is not accessible to the public. Nor can the public see any of the back of the flat. A couple of years back a shopping centre was built right outside the back of my flat. Whilst the area to the back of my flat is still not open to the public I did notice security guards occasionally walking past. This was no problem. More recently a takeaway shop has been added to the shopping centre. The back door of this takeaway shop backs on to the area behind my flat and there is a passage which leads to a fire door onto the busy street at the front. The problem is that that passage is being used as the staff entrance to the shop and for deliveries etc. I have also had to call the shopping centre security a couple of times because I’ve seen people in that area drinking etc. To get into my flat from that area would be very easy and this concerns me given that a) staff working in the takeaway could see how easy it would be to get in b) the fire door could be left open (presumably as it has been previously) and people could get in. The door at the back of my flat is single glazed and made of quite old thin wood. I could brake in my self in seconds - even if the locks were good - you could just brake the door or the glass. This is where I have had a problem with the council planning department.
I haven’t submitted any applications yet but two ladies from the council visited my flat in order to discuss the changes that I would like to make. We agreed that the windows could be draught proofed and secondary glazed similar to those at the front. The difficulty as that the council are insisting that I retain the original fabric of the door. It does appear to be an original door but a) nobody can see it - or is likely to again given its location b) it poses a huge security risk for me and is causing me unease when I go away. I cant secondary glaze it as it needs to be opened and closed. I would like to replace it with a stronger door which is more secure but the council are adamant they wont move on their decision. They have advised that if I submit an application to replace the door they will reject it and that they think that an appeal would also be rejected.
It seems unfair that given that I have abided by the councils regs on all other doors and windows, they aren’t willing to be a little flexible on the door. It is the council who gave planning permission for the shopping centre to built right outside. There seems to have been no consideration into the impact it would have on my property when that decision was made. This has in turn caused me a huge security risk then they refuse me planning permission to attempt to counter it.
So I’m asking if anyone has an opinion or can on offer any advice on a) are the council following correct procedure here? b) are the ladies from the council correct in their opinion that an appeal would be rejected? c?) is there anything else I can realistically do?
Let me know if any more details are needed.
Many thanks in advance.
Chris H