Paul McAlenan » Planning

Planning Mini Guides

paul-oid — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:31:10 +0000

The Planning Portal has released two further visual ‘mini’ guides to Permitted Development in addition to the Loft Conversion guide.

The two guides are for extensions and porches. There is also an interactive house guide and an interactive terrace guide.

For those of you really into this whole ‘web 2.0′ thing the Planning Portal even have a Second Life Interactive House !

Image: cropped screenshot of Planning Portal Visual Guide

Loft Conversion Guide

paul-oid — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:09:59 +0000

The Planning Portal has released a really useful new Loft Conversion visual guide outlining the limits & conditions for such a project to be considered permitted development, i.e. to not require planning permission.

New Homes are too Small!

paul-oid — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:17:44 +0000

Recent research by CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) suggests that residents of new homes built between 2003 & 2006 believe that they don’t have sufficient space for everyday life. In particular lower-income families are suffering more from lack of space.

CABE suggests that local planning authorities can and should ensure higher space standards before giving developments the green light.

I used to work for an architect’s practice that did a lot of work for housing associations and private developers and seeing the plans in front of me I would be quite dismayed at the size of rooms. I don’t believe much will have changed since 2006; only last week on a daytrip with the family we passed a new suburban housing development and remarked on how small the houses appeared.

The CABE press release can be viewed here.