Planning advice.

[Saw-sick Steve]

I've got the chance to buy a field close to home that included about an acre that had full industrial planning permission granted for a delivery company to relocate to. Said company went bust a few years back, but before they did they excavated the site for a massive shed they intended to construct to house their vehicles.

From the time scale, the PP may well have lapsed, but what I need to know is whether their excavating and levelling the site constitutes as a 'Material Start' in planning terms - i.e would I need to reapply for planning permission or does the work carried out previously already validate the permission? Does the absence of any concrete foundations make a difference?

Any advice gratefully received.

[Amelanchier]

It will ultimately be a matter of degree in the eyes of the LPA - how much has been levelled and excavated?

[Ollywood]

It will also depend on whether or not the original planning conditions (if any) have been fulfilled. If they haven't been met then the planning will have lapsed.

[muttley9050]

IME, a start is a start when it comes to planning. But unless you want exactly what they wanted I.e. same footprint, same materials to build with etc. Then you have to reapply anywaY. Beauty is if it was granted for them and your not unreasonable in your demands then it likely will for you too.

[Saw-sick Steve]

It will ultimately be a matter of degree in the eyes of the LPA - how much has been levelled and excavated?

 

Basically all the groundwork has been completed save the drainage channels to take the rainwater. Site is levelled, sides graded, even the trees for screening are heeled in in situ, all that's missing is the building itself.

[scraggs]

I thought building regs needed to be applied for and not 100% sure on this one but the first building inspector visit taken place (ie work officially started and footings dug) for pp not to lapse.

I was told renewal is generally a formality and I hope so because mine is soon to run out

[muttley9050]

But how much of that ground work was part of the planing consent. You actually have to start what there allowing you or telling you to do. If its all work around building but not related to the planning then its not started. If this work is related to the planning then it is started.

What's the problem with reapplying anyway.

Should be quite cheap and an almost dead cert.

[Ollywood]

Scraggs, go and speak with local planning authority now to make sure it's going to be ok. They can be real sods !! And you get some sandle weater digging their heels in it really starts to cost.

[Fencing]

Buy it,,,, they don't make land anymore