Latest news with #planningpermission
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Outrage after travellers destroy greenbelt field and turn it into 'concrete jungle' without planning permission in less than 72 hours
A group of travellers have provoked outrage after they razed a field on greenbelt land without planning permission and turned it into a gravel car park - in just 72 hours. Diggers and excavators moved onto the plot, in the village of Burtonwood, near Warrington, Cheshire, and started the unauthorised work over the Bank Holiday weekend last month. They covered half the field in hardcore and also erected a 10ft-high wooden fence around the boundary. It is understood the travellers bought the six-acre site legitimately and the sale went through on Friday May 23. Work began just hours later, at 6pm that evening, and villagers reported excavators and tipper trucks working through the night to remove soil and replace it with concrete, completing the job in less than three days. Before and after aerial photographs show the extent of the destruction and more than a dozen caravans and other vehicles have since moved onto the site. Although a retrospective planning application has now been submitted to Warrington Borough Council, local councillor Stuart Mann confirmed an investigation had been launched following complaints from local residents, who say the land is green belt and should be for agricultural use only. Mr Mann said he had received 'hundreds' of emails and more than 50 people turned up at his surgery to express concerns about the development. He confirmed planners had issued an enforcement notice to the travellers but admitted the issue could take weeks to resolve. Cheshire police and Scottish Power, who supply electricity to the area and investigate unauthorised attempts to tap into the mains supply, have also been informed, he said. 'I have met with the chief executive of Warrington Borough Council and the MP for Warrington North to raise our ongoing concerns regarding the development on Farmers Lane,' he said. 'I have received, from borough council planning and enforcement teams, that a retrospective planning application has been received, but that it is yet to be validated. 'Any such application has to be determined on its relative merits. This will take a number of weeks.' Nigel Catlow, vice chairman, of Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council, described it as a 'very serious and fast-moving issue.' In a letter to the council, he said: 'The landowners appear to be in serious breach, making the most of the Bank Holiday and the council being on a long weekend. 'This is of great concern to many residents and council taxpayers in Burtonwood and the wider area of Warrington West.' Locals took to social media to express their concerns, with one saying: 'The transformation is shocking.' Another, Jacqui Worrall, wrote: 'Breach!?.. it's a s****** concrete jungle!!!!' While Ray Houghton added: 'Blame the person who sold the land to them in the first place. The people doing this have no respect for the laws.' Mr Mann said it was 'important for it to be known the people who have done this own the land.' 'Concerns have been raised and the council needs to ensure that necessary checks and balances have been put in place,' he added. A spokesman for Warrington Borough Council confirmed that it had 'established a priority enforcement case' over the situation in Burtonwood. 'We have received a report about a potential breach of planning on land off Farmers Lane in Burtonwood and are currently investigating the issue.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Will we see 'noisy heat pump' rows as Ed Miliband lets homeowners put them right next to neighbours?
Homeowners no longer need to get planning permission to install a heat pump less than one metre away from a neighbour's property, the government has said. As Labour battles to boost the number of heat pumps installed across Britain amid its net-zero drive, it eased the planning restriction. Before the announced change, homeowners needed planning permission if they wanted to install a heat pump within one metre of their neighbour's property amid concerns over noise. In locations where homes are close together or terraced, the former rule would often delay heat pump installations. The change relates to the installation of air source heat pumps. Most ground source heat pump installations already fall under permitted development rules and do not require additional planning consent. Air source heat pumps sit on the outside wall of a home and look similar to the air conditioning units seen outside many industrial buildings. The planning changes also included a relaxation of the rules for the size and number of heat pumps households can install. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, led by Ed Miliband, heat pumps typically have sound levels 'similar to a fridge'. However, some people have previously complained about heat pump noise, saying they can sound similar to industrial fan units found by restaurant kitchens. The government department said it commissioned independent research last year which concluded that noise complaints from air source heat pumps were rare and that heat pumps were generally perceived as being very quiet. For many homeowners concerns remain about the high cost of heat pumps, despite grants being available. Homeowners who want to make the leap from gas boiler to heat pump already have access to grants worth up to £7,500. Even with the grants, critics claim heat pumps remain an option that only a minority of households can afford. Thomas Clarke, who runs Asset Plumbing & Heating in London, told This is Money the planning rule easing will help his customers and business. He said: 'Previously, there would often be long delays and many customers had to pay extra for an architect in order to get a heat pump fitted. The easing of the planning rule is helping to streamline the process.' Clarke told This is Money that the government should provide more help to small and medium sized businesses to ensure they can afford to train up apprentices. He said a shortage in the number of people trained to install heat pumps was driving up the cost of installations for households. David Broom, new build partnerships director at Kensa, told This is Money: 'The changes will make it easier for households to install air source heat pumps without needing planning permission. 'Any move that removes barriers and helps more people switch to efficient, low-carbon heating should be welcomed.' He added: 'For ground source heat pumps, the good news is most installations already fall under permitted development, meaning they won't require planning consent. 'While these updates are a step in the right direction and should help boost uptake, more still needs to be done to make heat pumps accessible to every household. 'The most effective next move would be for the government to implement the long-awaited Future Homes Standard. This would end gas boiler installations in new developments, unlocking a market for around 200,000 heat pump installations each year.' A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told This is Money: 'The energy shocks of recent years have shown the urgent need to upgrade British homes and our Warm Homes Plan will make them cheaper and cleaner to run, rolling out upgrades from new insulation to solar and heat pumps. 'We are helping more people get a heat pump, providing £7,500 towards the cost, and they are three times more efficient than gas boilers, enabling families to save around £100 a year by using a smart tariff. 'All heat pumps installed have to comply with strict sound emission limits.' How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Our neighbour built MASSIVE home gym on drive – it'll be a nightmare for parking & endanger our kids… so we got revenge
A NEIGHBOUR row over a "dangerous" home gym has led to residents getting their revenge and the council being forced to intervene. Emma Woodley and Paul Willis have divided locals after they spent tens of thousands of pounds on the structure in Basingstoke, Hants. 3 3 3 The home gym was erected in one of the two spaces on their £440,000 property. Paul, who runs his own personal training business, believed he would be able to build the single-storey building without planning permission. But disgruntled neighbours have since called the structure "dangerous", with one resident claiming Paul and Emma now park on the corner of the road - causing visibility issues for drivers. Another local who didn't want to be named told the Mail Online: "We have already had issues and accidents because of the parking". Finally seeking revenge, complaints led to action by the local authority. Councillors rejected the pair's retrospective application on the grounds it would "set a precedent" and have ordered the structure be pulled down. Officials claimed if other residents followed suit, there could be "no other parking spaces" left on the street. Local Olivia Lucas said in a letter objecting to retrospective planning permission: "As a resident, we already have parking issues with either cars parking fully on the road and other users being unable to get past, or parking on the pavements and pedestrians routinely putting themselves, children and dogs in danger having to walk out from a blind spot behind one of these cars. "As this property has already been erected I have witnessed the danger that this owner is causing by parking their car on the road rather than on the driveway that once was (not to mention all of their client's [sic] cars on a Tuesday night). "People turning into [the road] have to use up the full width of the road because they are unable to see the any oncoming traffic due to [their] car being parked on the road and therefore a head-on collision is inevitable at some point." Your kids are breaking law if they kick their ball over neighbour's fence, High Court rules after couple sued next door But Emma, 43, has insisted she and her husband don't park on the street and instead use nearby spaces which haven't been allocated. She said: "Of the 18 that are unallocated spaces, there are five to six empty at any one time. "We didn't use both of those spaces prior to the building being built anyway, just because of the constant need to keep pulling out into a road which we didn't have good visibility to see, causing more of a hindrance to pedestrians and drivers. "There's a bend to the road and a hill, so we have to be on the road to get safe visibility about whether it's safe to move out or not." Emma also argued clients who train in the gym are asked to park in unallocated spaces nearby, rather than on the street. The devastated couple claimed their loss will have a significant impact on Paul's business. Some locals have also hit back at claims that the gym is a nuisance, with one calling the ordeal "silly" because "they are not harming anyone". Others felt the council's order was going too far and that if it's not an "eyesore" there was no reason for it to go. Emma branded the ordeal "ludicrous" and highlighted how other residents have caravans and sheds on their driveways. This comes after a woman sparked outrage after cutting down her neighbour's tree. Kelsea Jade, from the UK, took to social media, showing the tree get cut down as she explained it blocked her garden from getting any sunlight. She revealed that she had bought a south-facing property which is known to get the most sun but didn't get the positives from it. Kelsea said: "Are we crazy for paying to have our neighbours tree cut down? For reference, we have a south-facing garden and we get the sun for the majority of the day but from 2 till 5pm we don't get a single thing. "This tree completely blocks it all."
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Travellers woo council in bid to get new settlement approved by promising to install e-bike chargers to prove their eco credentials
A group of travellers are hoping to obtain council planning permission for a new settlement by installing e-bike chargers to prove their eco credentials. In a bid to woo the local council, Michael Chalk and Tom Butler have been accused of including 'token sustainability features' in their planning application in order to have their plans approved for a rural site in Burley, New Forest. Their controversial application has caused a row amongst locals in the ancient village located in the heart of Hampshire's idyllic New Forest, after the pair and their families set up static caravans on the former horse paddocks before then lodging plans to install e-bike chargers and cycle sheds. In a move dubbed by locals as 'performative', the travellers have proposed to build grey, plastic e-bike sheds and charging ports on the field. Submitting a retrospective planning application to install two static caravans, two touring caravans, parking, bin and cycle stores, e-bike charging points and boundary fencing on the former pony paddocks earlier this year, their plans have now sparked outrage amongst local villagers. Opposing the 'urbanising nature' of the development and its 'superficial additions', more than 70 local residents have since objected to the application. Philip Mosley, a local resident, expressed his particular distaste for the e-bike chargers, stating: 'Token sustainability features, such as electric vehicle and e-bike charging points, do not genuinely offset the environmental impacts of permanent housing, increased traffic, waste production, and extensive hard surfaces. 'True sustainability should align naturally with the environmental context, rather than serving as superficial additions.' Mr Mosley also raised concerns that such approval could set a 'concerning precedent' and encourage similar applications. He added: 'Protecting the unique character of the New Forest National Park should be a top priority. 'While acknowledging the need for suitable accommodation options for all communities, including Gypsy and Traveller groups, this particular proposal significantly fails to meet essential planning criteria. 'The negative consequences clearly outweigh any perceived benefits.' The traveller site runs through the historic village of Burley. With a population of just over 1,300 and popular with tourists, it is surrounded by the open heathland of the New Forest. Andrew and Rachel Holloway live next to the paddocks and said that prior to the site's development in March, they overlooked fields and hedgerows. But now, since the travellers have built on the site, they reported that the land has 'completely changed' as the pony paddocks have become 'urbanised', while the 'natural beauty of the fields and surrounding area' has been left 'damaged'. The couple also remarked that the addition of the caravans and grey plastic bike sheds does not help to enhance the landscape and 'scenic beauty' of the New Forest. They added: 'It certainly harms the character and appearance of the area, and would never be considered as high-quality design.' Another neighbour, Mr Briggs, said while the application is framed as a 'multi-functional rural enterprise', the true proposal is 'unambiguously residential'. He wrote: 'The application appears to exploit features-such as electric vehicle and e-bike charging points-as superficial nods to sustainability objectives. 'These token elements cannot reasonably be construed as mitigating factors for the intrusive environmental and visual impacts of permanent dwellings, waste generation, hard infrastructure, and increased vehicular activity. 'Sustainability, in planning terms, is holistic and must be contextually appropriate-not performative.' Mr Chalk and Mr Butler have also received criticism for putting up 'threatening signage' outside of the site when they moved in. One of the signs placed outside of the site reads: 'Strictly no entry without permission. Please beware. Reactive guard dogs roaming loose which will bite you.' Within their application, the two men said that their families intend to integrate into village life, using local shops and other amenities. However, one objector disagreed with such claim, arguing: 'The tall fencing and aggressive signage displayed at the entrance do not suggest a willingness to integrate with the community.' Dr A Lawrence Dr C Walter even described such application as 'mischievous', suggesting that it 'seeks to legalise an encroachment of a built residential environment onto rural land, and that in a National Park'. They added: 'The proposal is for static homes with attendant infrastructure - charging points, bin stores, cycle stores. 'It urbanises and its fences suburbanise what was a pony paddock in a rural setting. 'There is nothing temporary in this proposal just as there is nothing rural or agricultural. Already mostly built, it sets a damaging precedent for incremental (sub)urbanisation of the village.' The New Forest Park Authority are set to make a decision on the plans later this week.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Couple locked in neighbour row ordered to tear down home gym as war over parking spaces erupts… they say ‘it's not us'
A COUPLE are fuming after being ordered to rip down their home gym after neighbours' "ludicrous" complaints. Emma Woodley and Paul Willis forked out tens of thousands of pounds for the structure on their driveway in Basingstoke, Hants,. 6 6 6 Paul, who runs his own person training business, believed he would be able to build the single-storey structure without planning permission. But the pair have seen their dream work-out space axed after locals moaned it would create parking chaos on the estate. The home gym was erected in one of the two spaces on their £440,000 property, which sparked fear among neighbours the road would be clogged with cars. Complaints resulted in councillors rejecting the pair's retrospective application on the grounds it would "set a precedent". Officials claimed if other residents followed suit, there could be "no other parking spaces" left on the street. Local Olivia Lucas said in a letter objecting to retrospective planning permission: "As a resident, we already have parking issues with either cars parking fully on the road and other users being unable to get past, or parking on the pavements and pedestrians routinely putting themselves, children and dogs in danger having to walk out from a blind spot behind one of these cars. "As this property has already been erected I have witnessed the danger that this owner is causing by parking their car on the road rather than on the driveway that once was (not to mention all of their client's [sic] cars on a Tuesday night). "People turning into [the road] have to use up the full width of the road because they are unable to see the any oncoming traffic due to [their] car being parked on the road and therefore a head-on collision is inevitable at some point." The disgruntled resident claimed the gym forced Paul and Emma to park on the corner of the road which caused visibility issues for drivers. But Emma, 43, hit back: "Of the 18 that are unallocated spaces, there are five to six empty at any one time." The IT manager continued: "We didn't use both of those spaces prior to the building being built anyway, just because of the constant need to keep pulling out into a road which we didn't have good visibility to see, causing more of a hindrance to pedestrians and drivers. "There's a bend to the road and a hill, so we have to be on the road to get safe visibility about whether it's safe to move out or not." Emma also argued clients who train in the gym are asked to park in unallocated spaces nearby, rather than on the street. The devastated couple claimed their loss will have a significant impact on Paul's business. They even said the decision could force them to pack up and move due to financial struggles. Emma branded the ordeal "ludicrous" and highlighted how other residents have caravans and sheds on their driveways. This comes after homeowners who built a tiny gym in their driveway without planning permission have slammed a 'jobsworth' council for ordering them to rip it down. Madam Pal Singh was given the green-light to build a single-storey garage at his semi in Highgate, Birmingham. But when a bigger property appeared at the end of the driveway, town hall planners demanded the structure be razed to the ground. Council chiefs gave the family until July to pull down the new building after losing an appeal, but it still remains standing. Elsewhere, another couple who paid their neighbour £53,000 to build a gym in the garden have branded it "rubbish" - and are suing him for £215,000. Paras Dodhia and his wife Devina had high hopes that pensioner Tommy Joyce would transform the yard of their Middlesex home. But after forking out thousands, the pair were left fuming at the "rubbish" quality and "shoddy" workmanship. The gym enthusiasts claim Mr Joyce's gym was so "atrocious" they were forced to gut and demolish it. Plus, the UK's 'biggest man cave' is finally being torn down as work got underway to demolish the 'eyesore' building. Millionaire accountant Graham Wildin illegally built the private leisure complex behind his home in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, Wildin, 72, has served a prison sentence over his refusal to remove the massive 'man cave' and now, after repeatedly flouting orders from local planners and the court, Forest of Dean Council has begun demolition work. Wildin had the huge building - housing a cinema, tenpin bowling alley and casino, erected at his home in 2014 without planning permission. What to Do If You Disagree with the Council's Planning Decision Disputes over planning applications can be stressful, but there are steps you can take to challenge or resolve the situation: Understand the Reasons: Carefully review the council's decision and the specific reasons for refusal or enforcement. This will help you identify areas to address. Seek Professional Advice: Consult a planning consultant or solicitor with expertise in planning law. They can offer tailored advice and represent your case if necessary. Submit an Appeal: If you believe the decision is unfair, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Be prepared to provide evidence and technical details to support your case. Explore Compromise: Engage with the council to see if a compromise can be reached. Adjusting aspects of the development, such as materials or design, may lead to an acceptable solution. Engage the Community: Support from neighbours and local residents can strengthen your position. A petition or letters of support may highlight the development's benefits. Act Promptly: There are strict time limits for appeals and responses to enforcement notices. Ensure you act within the specified deadlines to avoid further complications. Remember, while it can be frustrating, maintaining a constructive dialogue with the council is often the best way to find a resolution. 6 6 6
