Alterations to hotel

Planning permission and listed building consent have been granted relating to alterations to an hotel in Westminster, following a series of negotiations with the Council.

Client: private hotel

Extensions to domestic property

What appeared to be a modest project - extensions to the rear and the roof of a house in Notting Hill - but sensibly we were brought in at the outset by the architect, who recognised there were some complex planning issues to address. After extensive discussions between the client, the architect and ourselves, we submitted a planning application and the Council were persuaded to grant permission for all the client's wishes.

Client: private individual

Monkey Sanctuary, Berkshire

A change from the usual work most in the profession see: we have submitted a planning application for additional enclosures to house monkeys and baboons at a primate rescue sanctuary in Berkshire. The site is in a sensitive green belt location, and rescues and cares for monkeys which have been badly treated. The project involves careful discussions with local residents, councillors and planners to reassure that very special circumstances exist for the 10 new enclosures within woodland.

Client: Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary

North Audley Street, London

Planning permission and listed building consent have been granted by Westminster City Council for the change of use of the upper floors of this interesting building in Mayfair, from offices to flats. The interior still displayed much of the original character of what was once a house above a shop. The work in this project involved advising on the proposed alterations and demonstrating to the Council that the change of use would comply with the planning policies, and that there would be no harm to the listed building.

Client: Grosvenor

Eaton Square, London

Advice has been given regarding internal alterations to this listed building in Eaton Square, Belgravia, associated with the amalgamation of flats in the property. The building had an interesting history of changes over the years and research was undertaken to explain the benefits to the building that would arise from the changes.

Client: Grosvenor

Redevelopment of commercial premises

Proposals have been submitted for the redevelopment of an unattractive commercial site in the Green Belt, near Windsor. Various car garage uses lie surrounded by houses, and the scheme shows new housing in a traditional courtyard setting.
Client: Shorstan Company Ltd

Reversion of house, Richmond

As many in the planning profession know, the London Borough of Richmond have had a long-standing (and sometimes controversial) policy that stops reversion of a property back to a single family house if it was once divided into flats. Some other Councils have followed this policy.

This policy stance is starting to change, and we recently gained planning permission for the reversion of a property back from 3 flats to one house. This now allows the family to reclaim their full home and live in it together.

Client: private client

The Wisley Golf Club, Surrey

The Wisley, one of the UK's most prestigious private members' golf clubs, is set in beautiful grounds and invests a great deal in providing facilities for the golfers. Unfortunately, one of their improvements involved creating a new access track through a woodland on green belt land and in an area liable to flood; they had quite innocently thought planning permission was not needed.

Following investigations from the local planning authority, they were faced with possible enforcement action against both the new track and a change of use of land to a golf course. We carried out detailed research into the planning records for the land and analysis of planning policy and precedent. We demonstrated to the Council that no change of use had occurred, and we submitted a planning application for retention of the track. Permission was granted through delegated powers, and the track can remain.

 Client: The Wisley

Old Barrack Yard, Belgravia

Planning permission has been granted for the Grosvenor Estate, for the conversion and alterations to an interesting mews property in Belgravia, Westminster. The ground floor was used as stabling, with accommodation above. The scheme sees the residential use come into the ground floor, with the re-use of historic features in the building. 

Work on the project involved research into the history of the property and presenting the case for renovation and change of use, in accordance with conservation guidelines and the Council's policies. The application was granted under delegated powers.

Residential extension

A small project, with a successful outcome. Large extensions and changes to a detached house in a conservation area, where submissions were made to argue for the contemporary design at the house in an area of more traditional appearance. Approved by the Council.

Change of use of shop to residential

Planning permission has been granted on appeal for the change of use of a vacant retail unit to residential, in the village centre of Thames Ditton, Surrey.

The Council objected to the change of use on the grounds of a loss of a shop in the defined village centre. We demonstrated to the Inspector that the marginal location of the shop and the limitations of the listed building meant that it had proven unviable to let. The Inspector agreed that the change of use would not be harmful to the retail environment of the village.

New stables

Planning permission granted for new stables and hay barn in the Green Belt, near Thorpe, Surrey. The Council had raised concerns relating to the 'need' for the stables, in terms of Green Belt policy, with adverse comments from their agricultural advisor. Their fears were shown to be unfounded, and reassurance given that the stables were necessary for the land.

Another nursing home

Another long-running case resolved. And another nursing home, this time in Woking, Surrey.

The nursing home had a number of outbuildings in its rear service yard. The Council took enforcement action against these, and unfortunately this meant they had to go - along with all the facilities they contained which were essential to the well-being of residents, many of which have acute nursing needs. A new permanent extension to the home was designed, but the Council refused permission for that, and also decided to prosecute the home through the Courts. We took it to appeal and permission was granted, and court action stopped. A good result for the home and for the residents.

Takeaway in East London

After two High Court challenges, multiple Committee meetings and now an appeal, we helped a businessman in the Shadwell area of East London finally get permission to open a takeaway.

He came to us after residents had twice successfully overturned the local Council's decision to grant permission through the Courts. The applicant was desperate to open his business in a vacant shop but, with objections mounting in the thousands, the Council refused permission again. We took the case to appeal, with the unusual issue of 'healthy eating' being a main topic for discussion. We demonstrated to the Inspector that there were no policies that prevent the opening of the takeaway, and there wouldn't be any harm to healthy living objectives. Highways and amenity grounds were also discussed in the decision. Now, after a very long time, this small business can finally get up and running.

Replacement house in the Green Belt

A local job: replacing a small bungalow in the Green Belt near Windsor for a larger house. This project involved careful analysis of previous decisions on the site to present a scheme, in conjunction with the architect, to show a larger house that complied with planning policy. There was a previous permission on the site granted many years ago, but the client is much happier with his new house!

Another Grosvenor project

Our work with the Grosvenor Estate continues, with listed building consent being granted for significant internal works to the upper floors of this commercial building, to create high specification apartments. A full Heritage Statement was produced following analysis of the building and research at archives. The changes to the building were well-justified to persuade Westminster Council that the works would be acceptable, and listed building consent and planning permission granted.

Nursing home, Surbiton

A Nursing Home in Surbiton, Surrey, called on our services when the Council received complaints about new buildings they had put up in their garden, in a Conservation Area. Planning permission had been refused for similar buildings in a similar place a few years before. We submitted a planning application to retain the buildings and reassured the Council that there was no harm to the neighbours or the area. Planning permission has been granted.

An appeal win to start off the blog

The first bit of news is a successful appeal for a client in New Malden, Surrey. The client had applied for a change of use of part of the office building to residential. This had been supported by evidence that there was no commercial demand for the floorspace. Unfortunately, the LB Kingston upon Thames refused permission.

At appeal it was demonstrated with robust evidence that the change of use and loss of employment would not conflict with the Council's planning policies. Our role was in presenting the case and co-ordinating the input and evidence from other professionals. The Inspector agreed with the appeal case, and permission granted for the change of use.

Welcome to the planning news page!

A new part of the website - recent news from Leigh & Glennie Ltd. This will profile projects that have been undertaken for clients, to give a wider idea of the range of work that the practice undertakes.

We hope you find it useful!

Listed building on Grosvenor estate

Recently we have been working on a number of properties owned by the Grosvenor estate - providing advice on conversion works and extensions to listed buildings and properties within the conservation areas of Belgravia and Mayfair.

This scheme was for internal alterations and a rear extension to a Grade II listed building, designed by W D Caroe in the late 19th Century and much admired in the Survey of London. The works also saw the removal of original parts of the building to the rear. We undertook historical research and prepared a Heritage Statement to accompany the planning and listed building applications to the Council. Approval was granted for this sensitive scheme by Westminster.