Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Is Haringey Planning Incompetent or Corrupt?
Hot question asked in good faith. 
Facts as follows:
- A neighbour applied for planning approval for a structure that would obviously overlook the windows and gardens of all neighbouring houses.
- I objected by email to the Planning Officer and Planning Helpdesk. I also informed the Haringey the drawings of the existing site were inaccurate - and they showed the same structure as a different size on each drawing.
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The structure was then built. When I checked the Planning Application, I found the Planning Officer stated there had been no responses from residents. The officer also stated in the recommendation report there would be no overlooking which was inconceivable. The same officer referred to high walls that did not exist which would have appeared to prevent overlooking to an approving manager. All of this helped convince a senior manager to wrongly approve this application. - As the dimensions of the structure were different on each drawing, it was not clear what had been approved.
- The good thing was I managed to speak to the Assistant Director of Planning who found a solution. ( This man does deserve some credit for fixing the specific problem..)
This highlights Haringey's planning process is potentially wide open to fraud. I am told Haringey are reviewing the planning process which will fix all the problems with it. I have seen nothing yet that would address this issue.
I would be interested to know if anyone else has experienced or knows of similar issues with Planning Applications in Haringey.
Haringey's Councillors (East & West) and the Council's Chief Executive need to put in an adequate Governance structure and appear determined not to do so. This needs to change.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mavic Starfish on
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My experience of them was lots of stalling, rarely replied to emails unless there was numerous follow ups. The phone was rarely answered, and whenever I rang the extension of the case officer they were always out of the office and a "colleague" had answered there phone. All in all a very frustrating experience which resulted in the house next door being granted permission for a HMO. It now has 6 flats - did someone mention bungs...................Also, the newly built West Green Place - how did that go through without anyone being notified of the final decision?
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Permalink Reply by Mr Wodjacallim on
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Hard to find evidence of corruption - but not hard to find a long list of errors that might or might not be corruption. The main issue here is the planning process is pretty poor and my experience on trying to contact Haringey is very similar to yours.
Whenever I called, I would be connected to an engaged phone, a Voice Mail that was never answered, full Voice Mail boxes or a colleague "who could not help" or an email that was never answered.
I wonder why the Planning Help Desk does not take a note of a query on a system, then get someone to respond by phone, email or letter ... or even better make sure the issue is logged on the system against the planning application?
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my experience was overall good - neighbour trying to build an outrageous garden shed to rent out and planning was on my side for all three planning attempts/appeal etc.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Your neighbour was obviously not very well connected...
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The neighbours should be very well connected. According to Companies House, their share of their company's profit is £200,000 pa which does not prove corruption .... my real and point is the existing process is performing poorly which is easy to prove and also wide open to abuse which is difficult to prove but does it matter?
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No. 82 (I think) on the corner of Hampden Road and the Passage on the Ladder is building a large building in the bottom of the garden with double glazed UPVC windows and doors. You can see it from the Passage, and it looks like it will be used for more than storing your stuff in. It may be perfectly legit (I haven't had a chance to check the Planning portal), but was wondering whether anyone knows anything about it.
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It might not be legit at all. I suggest you check if it has Planning Permission and what it is for. My neighbours have a similar outbuilding and their company has been raided by the Border Agency and found to have 12 illegal immigrants.
The level of build suggests the intention may to make it a place to live or work which could contravene planning law.
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Permalink Reply by sparkle on
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Hi Charlotte, I looked this up on and think the last planning permission they had approved (there have been 3) was in 2001 for a single storey rear extension. As there are no drawings to view i can't tell whether this is for the current building or not.
However, one of the clauses in that planning permission is that works must be started no later than 5 years from the date of approval.
All of which means that the current works are on balance probably unlikely to have had planning approval.
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I found them slow and very difficult to deal with. I don't know whether there are simply not enough of them. On my previous address the owner of the house next door built a huge and very unsightly breeze block extension. It took a lot of effort to get Planning to come out but they eventually issued a legal demand that they reduce the size and height. The owners, who own several properties in the area, obviously knew the game as they ignore and ignored while leaving the house standing empty. They then applied for planning permission to turn the house in to two flats after I moved and got it so who says breaking the rules doesn't pay.
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A mix up is quite possible. However, the extent of it is beyond most people's capability to make a mess of things which begs a few questions.
That makes me wonder if I am looking at ineptitude or something else? But it is all there on paper, so the facts of the matter cannot be disputed.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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The Cabinet member with responsibility for Planning is Joseph Ejiofor.
The officer in overall charge of planning is (TBC following a recent reorganisation)
For what it's worth (and I'm not imagining that they'll wave any magic wand), I encourage anyone with concerns around the performance of the planning department to write open letters to these two public servants and let us all know what responses you get.
2014 is a local elections year and it's a good time to be asking searching questions.
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