Weekly Planning Update w/e 31st August 2008

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Permalink Reply by Anette on September 4, 2008 at 21:21

72 Seymour Road is a classic example of a sly landord knowing EXACTLY what he's doing. This was 2 flats in 1993. No planning permission for that conversion to be seen anywhere. In May 2004 they started paying 3 x band B and 1 x band A council tax. Clearly an illegal conversion. Which could have been discovered had council tax spoken to planning - or had I been aware of the restricted conversion area back then...
This slimeball has waited 4 years and 3 months, and is now applying for a certificate of lawfulness. I am absolutely disgusted, and cannot believe he's gotten away with it! The house seems to be crammed to the rafters with people, and I do want to look into who rents it (landlord is absent), I would not be surprised if it is our beloved council. Renting another illegally converted HMO. And most likely putting too many people in to too small a space.
I think we should all object, so at least he has to prove when he did this illegal conversion.

Also, this should be used as a case study, it's a classic example of how a landlord uses the system to his advantage, leaving the council to look like the bunch of mugs they cleary are!

Peeved? Moi?

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Permalink Reply by Paul Harvey on September 5, 2008 at 9:40

hi everyone - slightly un-related, but i'm in a first floor flat on warham road - and we're keen to extend into our loft (we own the freehold jointly with downstairs who are happy with this). i've heard from a builder however that planning is complicated for extensions on flats - and there may be restrictions on dormer size, whereas for houses there is no such restriction?

does anyone have any experience/knowledge of loft conversions for flats in the area? grateful for any advice

cheers,
paul

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on September 5, 2008 at 9:51

I don't Paul, but I know they're happening all the time. So your builder may be being over-cautious. One thing you could do is go to Haringey Council's planning page and search around for ladder properties see what they've had done - plans are usually attached. You can Haringey's planning search via Planning page on this site (vis More Content tab)

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Permalink Reply by Paul Harvey on September 5, 2008 at 10:54

hiya - will look, i don't think there's a problem with conversions per se, he just feels there may be different rules for a flat versus a whole house. can't see much evidence on there - may be wise for me to contact planners direct!

cheers

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Permalink Reply by Stuart on September 5, 2008 at 12:05

We had this issue many years ago when we lived in a top floor conversion on Umfreville. We were told that there is a blanket ban on loft conversions if the house has already been convered into flats. Apparently it's in the UDP (?) - the development policy. Friends of ours on Woollaston in the same situation went ahead and did one anyway, then were 'grassed up' by a neighbour they fell out with. Luckily they were able to work their way out of it (through evidence of 'past use', ahem). But yes, last I heard, you can only do a loft conversion if you live in a house on the ladder, not a flat conversion. Another interesting thing we were told by builders was not to expect it to add the equivalent value to our house because it would be too "top heavy" and anyone looking for a flat that size would be more likely to go for a proper house.

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on September 12, 2008 at 13:02

Paul you may be interested in thew news in this Times article today.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Harvey on September 12, 2008 at 13:25

thanks hugh, i've spoken to a loft converter about this - from sunlight lofts who do a fair amount of loft conversion work in the borough. he's not sure what the rule changes will mean for flats yet, he thinks they're generally quite clear and generous for extending houses (due to old permitted development rules) but that once houses are converted into flats, you forego the right to further permitted development and need to go down the planning permission route. his advice was wait until the changes start to bed-in after 1st october and then contact the planners to see what's what as apparently everyone is still a little unclear.

cheers for the link though..

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Permalink Reply by Alison P on September 6, 2008 at 22:13

Okay, have just submitted my comments for No. 72. No others there yet. Have also written tetchy email to Gina Adamou (who chairs the HMO group at Haringey) just to let of steam about how **** ridiculous the planning system is, to allow people to convert properties illegally and then say 'okay, fine then, off you go - just cram 'em in' when they bother telling the council about it four years later.

I know that lots of work is being done in this area and that Haringey are starting to take this more seriously, but still ....

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