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