Wood store

[Feltwell]

Come on, I can't be the only one thinking this....

You've built something that is visually pleasing and appropriate to it's setting, but that is subjective - but you've built it in such a position that the chances of anyone else seeing it or even being aware of it's existence are very low. It does nothing to alter your listed building, and you could if necessary remove it in a day with no trace of it ever having been there.

Technically you need PP. In reality, the chances of it offending anyone are practically nil and the chances of your local authority taking enforcement action are very low. If they were to take action you could apply retrospectively or just take it down.

Why bother to tell anyone?

Flak jacket and tin helmet have been put on........

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Either the rules apply equally to everyone (i.e. "technically"), or we just give up on the whole lot - In which case, don't come running to me when your neighbour builds a windfarm / nuclear waste dump.

 

[Feltwell]

I've had neighbours in the past where that could be counted as an improvement! It's a shame that sofa's dumped in the front garden or rotting immobile VW campers don't need PP.

 

[DaveBrigg]

Sorry for asking, when it may have been better to keep quiet. I was curious because we will ahve to face similar hurdles for a greenhouse we want - just a bog standard 8' by 6' in green. We have one of those 6' by 2' plastic ones at the moment, which presumably does not need any permission. At what point do the rules come into play? Are they affected by materials (perspex in the new one, plastic sheeting in the old) or size? Neither will have a fixed base, so could be removed without trace if necessary.

 

[Feltwell]

If it's in the curtilage of a listed building or not seems to be key.

Have a look on the Government's Planning Portal - it really is very good, they have an interactive guide to what you can and can't do which I've found makes the planning rules quite clear.

 

[Flyfisher]

I agree with both Feltwell and Gareth. But, isn't the reality of such situations that, even if the local authorities become aware of the work, it's quite clearly appropriate, non-damaging and not visually detrimental so they won't take any further action.

Or would they really waste public money and take a 'jobsworth' view just to flex their planning muscles?

 

[Jon Maine]

I agree with Gareth, however there are many people who do both sympathetic and unsympathetic things without PP for various reasons. The problem comes that most people do something they feel is appropriate when infact only few do. Whilst I suspect that I would fall into a bracket which would not cause much contention the whole idea of planning enforcement is to rule with an even hand, although sadly in practice that does not always happpen from issues on both sides.

We have made sure that LBC has always been in place but I did refuse to get planning permission on a simple note that I needed every penny to go towards the building. The council did agree in writing that they were unlikely to take enforcement action but remained unconvinced it was a house although its features clearly exhibit that it was. But then there is an argument that its last use was as partial workshop and storage.

However all this aside for future saleability of the building I will have to probably formalise the planning permission here rather than getting to a sale situation and it falling through ( not that we are intending to sell ). So I need to get out all of my old photos and find the evidence of the grotty lean too and just explain it is a replacement of the section which was there in 1948 and therefore albiet a grotty later lean to essentially classed by planners as part of the original house seeing it was present in 1948. So it will get formalised shortly through necessity especially seeing we intend to do no further work here now.

 

[biffvernon]

Ooo, it's all so posh. We pull a large sheet of heavy black polythene over the firewood heap wherever the tipper lorry dropped it and chuck a few old motorcar tyres on top to stop it blowing away. Forms an enclosure. Hope it doesn't need planning permission.

 

[Flyfisher]

If there was always a lean-to present, how does anyone know that it isn't the one you've just repaired, for which no pp or LBC would be required?

If the local council wanted to take action, what would be the basis for their case (this thread excepted!)? Do they have documentary evidence of what was originally there?

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I've had neighbours in the past where that could be counted as an improvement! It's a shame that sofa's dumped in the front garden or rotting immobile VW campers don't need PP.

But that's untidy land which can be enforced against under other legislation.

I assume you've never seen my front garden...

 

[JoceAndChris]

I have.http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.638869,1.295821&spn=0,359.998798&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=52.638869,1.295821&panoid=48t8y5cGu5JcCr8zyl-FlA&cbp=12,202.63906700463207,,0,5.803571428571424
http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10281&hilit=swithland+slate&start=75 We think it's the one with the blue door. The garden may have become significantly worse since Big Brother were there filming.

Hahahahaha revenge is sweet! xxx

 

[skier-hughes]

If there was always a lean-to present, how does anyone know that it isn't the one you've just repaired, for which no pp or LBC would be required?

If the local council wanted to take action, what would be the basis for their case (this thread excepted!)? Do they have documentary evidence of what was originally there?

One local council used google earth to prove that a caravan club CL site had 6 vans on the site instead of the permitted 5. I also used it when a neighbour said there had always been a track where he'd laid one, but there hadn't. He was allowed to keep it in the end as with it being agricultural land he needs a drive to get feed etc to his 6 cows. Everyone knows he wants to build a house on the land, as he told the local councillor!!! Now he's got a caravan on it, and complain as I may nothing seems to be done!!

 

[middi]

The way I see it if you need a shelter for one year supply next to your house to keep the firewood dry you just build one. ( as you have done Jon).

I don't think any authority would have objection but we all know that as the law stands they have to be advised.

( after all how do you define a shelter, shelters could be 150 feet long and 60 feet wide )

 

[Jon Maine]

Well I will have to formalise planning permission in the new year after spending christmas hunting down my pictures and original survey plans for my discussion with the council.

Anyhow I did put the tiles on, I have not finished the top row how I wanted to yet, but then again it may work out weather proof just how it is in its location.

Few picturesView attachment 2View attachment 1

 

[JoceAndChris]

Ah, they're beautiful. Such pretty colours!

 

[MdB]

Nice

 

[MattW]

Jon - that is a really fantastic peice of work. Matt

 

[Jon Maine]

Thank you all, you make my ego swell

It is difficult to get good pictures of it because of its tight location.

It has been nice to clear all of the garden junk into a dry store seeing we have no firewood arriving for a while as the cellar is well stocked with wood at the moment which is far from ideal.

 

[Feltwell]

That does look very good.

Handy for me that you posted that up, as I was thinking of building something pretty much the same next to my new garage, to put all the wheelie bins and recycling containers in. I was going to put doors on mine.

Otherwise the bins especially just sit on the patio next to the back door, and they're not the most attractive of items. Your picture has convinced me it's a good idea, although mine will probably just be in softwood, and with old machine-made clay tiles, so not quite as rustic.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Looks fantastic Jon - and has given me some ideas....