Hooray!!!! We won!

[DaveBrigg]

Sorry, couldn't help celebrating. A few months back I asked here for advice on how to object to planning permission being granted on what was formerly the orchard of our listed farmhouse. Armed with the comments received, and the support of the CO, we objected and the council refused permission. The owner took it to appeal, the CO made a great case against, and the appeal has just been dismissed, primarily due to the impact development would have on the setting of a listed building. The details are here: http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/fscdav/READONLY?OBJ=COO.2036.300.2.8041686&NAME=/Decision.pdf

A little piece of history survives to fight another day.

(ps. for those concerned about the lack of affordable rural housing, the proposal was for a 4 bed 'executive' property with detached garage, just like the dozens of others being built locally)

 

[Nemesis]

Well done!

Wish our local authority CO was as good

 

[BMcD]

Well Done

I bet you're glad it's all over. Now you can enjoy a very relaxing weekend in your garden. Good work

 

[Tom]

Well done!!! You must feel so pleased!

Jaqy

 

[Nemesis]

Try now to buy the land, before another application is made.

 

[Nemesis]

I'm not joking - a three year battle has been lost:

http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=537310


Conservation area, setting of listed building, requires demolition of a listed wall (which was NOT in poor condition...)

Everyone opposed this - English Heritage, locals, town council, SAVE...

CO thinks that demolition of wall (which will allow access) and rebuilding in a different place is fine!

The original proposals were for expensive housing - the local authority said that if some were affordable they would look again...

Former orchard, deemed brownfield site by local authority.

 

[Jailhouse John]

I'm not joking - a three year battle has been lost:

http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=537310


Conservation area, setting of listed building, requires demolition of a listed wall (which was NOT in poor condition...)

Everyone opposed this - English Heritage, locals, town council, SAVE...

CO thinks that demolition of wall (which will allow access) and rebuilding in a different place is fine!

The original proposals were for expensive housing - the local authority said that if some were affordable they would look again...

Former orchard, deemed brownfield site by local authority.

When I lived in Hexham the Courant was always regarded as a bit of a Crusader on such matters.

 

[Flyfisher]

What's the definition of 'affordable housing'? It's a common enough term these days but I don't really know what it means in practice. Is there a price threshold that defines 'affordable' ?

 

[Nemesis]

The only crusading in the Courant for a long time has been carried out by me. The latest editor is on record that we conservationists are sincere but misguided.

Affordable - I think something to do with Housing Associations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A2110753

 

[DaveBrigg]

I wasn't certain of this either, so I tried to check.
Circular 6/98 defines affordable housing as:
“both low-cost market and subsidised housing (irrespective of tenure, ownership - whether exclusive or shared - or financial arrangements) that will be available to people who cannot afford to rent or buy houses generally available on the open market.”

On new developments of over a hectare, or with more than 25 properties, the council can insist on a certain percentage of affordable housing - usually between 25 and 30%.

The houses can be 'affordable' by being let through Housing Associations as suggested, rented privately at below the market price, have shared ownership, or be sold at a discount to people who meet certain criteria. There is usually a requirement for them to remain affordable i.e. Not sold at a discount unless this requirement is legally passed on to future owners.
Some quite attractive properties in rural locations near us have an agricultural tenancy requirement which, given the level of wages paid to farm workers, means they have to be below the market price.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I wasn't certain of this either, so I tried to check.
Circular 6/98 defines affordable housing as:
“both low-cost market and subsidised housing (irrespective of tenure, ownership - whether exclusive or shared - or financial arrangements) that will be available to people who cannot afford to rent or buy houses generally available on the open market.”

On new developments of over a hectare, or with more than 25 properties, the council can insist on a certain percentage of affordable housing - usually between 25 and 30%.

Our Local Plan says 40% affordable in any development over 0.4ha or 15 dwellings will be the "starting point for negotiations". In parishes with fewer than 3000 inhabitants, that requirement comes down to 0.2ha or five dwellings.

 

[Nemesis]

And the 'affordable' and 'brownfield', (in fact a former orchard) means that conservation area and setting of listed building status is overridden...

 

[biffvernon]

Don't say 'affordable' when you mean 'cheap'. No developer ever built an unaffordable house twice.

 

[Nemesis]

They bought listed house, (Building at Risk) outbuilding (given permission to convert) and land very 'affordably'. Locals who wanted to buy, keep horses, etc, were outbid as a developer can afford to pay more...

Other schemes have been rejected. The council has bent over backwards to allow this scheme to go ahead. Meets targets... so they will still make a hefty profit.

Trees with TPO's on were destroyed without permission, etc etc...

 

[skier-hughes]

Instead of waiting for the council to do something, have you tried rallying the troops and taking out a private prosecution?

 

[Nemesis]

Short of a lottery win...

The council has done nothing for a variety of reasons.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Don't say 'affordable' when you mean 'cheap'. No developer ever built an unaffordable house twice.

The point about "affordable" houses is that they would be non-profitable without the books being cooked by getting finance for them from the Housing Associations.

 

[Pford75]

And the point about 'affordability' is 'for whom?'

A 5-bed detached executive house is affordable...but only if you have a reasonable income or a hefty deposit.

The alternative term which is used around these parts is 'social housing'...often confused with affordable housing......social housing appears to be a solution for 'problem families'