Published: 20th March 2018 Written by: Tom Cheffers

After several attempts to gain a Certificate of Lawfulness for a 2-storey rear extension for a detached house in Sutton, including an unsuccessful planning appeal. Get Planning and Architecture worked with legal experts to have this appeal decision overturned, (via a ‘re-determination’). This means that our client can now complete his project to significantly enlarge and remodel his house, which stands in Metropolitan Open Land. The Planning Inspector was critical of the Council, stating that the Council’s behaviour in refusing to grant a certificate was ‘close to the limit’ of unreasonableness. It also means that our client is reassured that the building will not be enforced against.

The conditions that determine whether a project is legitimate under permitted development rights are set at government level and limit the size and format of residential extensions. In this case the roof shape was contested, and the matter had to go to appeal. We offer a responsive service to planning applicants across the UK who wish to contest planning decisions and enforcement notices issued by Local Planning Authorities and appeals are an important part of what we do.

Get Planning and Architecture have many years of experience in advising homeowners and developers in London on permitted development rights, and our team of experts keep up to date with the seemingly endless stream of amendments and changes to policy issued by government and local authorities. This means that we are well-placed to appraise your proposal, and to let you know whether we believe that it is covered under such rights. We are local to Sutton and are very familiar with both policy and its implementation in the borough.