A retrospective application for planning permission has been submitted to North Devon Council by the wife of the authority’s leader.
Conservative councillor Des Brailey, whose wife Dawn made the application, said he thought the development at his Barnstaple home was exempt from requiring the permission, only realising later that this wasn’t the case.
Mrs Brailey’s application, made earlier in the autumn and decided by North Devon Council’s planning committee, was recommended for approval, and subsequently passed. (Retrospective applications are considered in the same way as standard advance applications are.)
The matter may have caused the Braileys some embarrassment, given their position on the council. More importantly, however, it serves as a reminder of the need to understand whether or not planning permission is needed before pressing ahead with your new conservatory or replacement windows.
Mr Brailey told a local newspaper that the need (or not) for planning permission hadn’t been made clear from the outset, especially given the complex the planning history surrounding his part of Barnstaple.
He said: “Initially I was given incorrect advice. However, a formal application was submitted in the interests of being open and transparent on this matter.”
While planning permission had originally been granted 15 years ago, it had to be updated to include a small change to the roof’s design. Equally, because a footpath runs down the side of the property, the situation was made more complex.
According to the council, the conservatory didn’t appear to need permission, and the local planning team had confirmed this. But by the time the error had been found, work on the conservatory had been completed.
Following a relaxing of the rules by the government of the time in 2012, in a move aimed at encouraging home improvements to boost the economy, even large conservatories and similar extensions don’t generally need planning permission .
However, as this case shows only too clearly – it’s not always that straightforward and there are exceptions. So it’s important to find out before work begins on your home improvement.
At Worthing Windows, we know both our local area and the planning system well, making us strongly positioned to offer professional advice. Talk to us today about conservatories in Sussex, from Ferring to Shoreham and beyond, and we’ll gladly chat through any concerns you may have.