Hi all.
A client has purchased a victorian house, which has previoulsy been converted into 3 flats.
Under the LAPD advice we submitted for a full plans application for change of use with small rear extension with a view to deconverting the property back into a single dwelling house. This was succesful however the Planning Officer is insisting on BNG as a condition.
The site is 1 building (existing victorian house), site area of less than 0.5 ha and is being built and designed by the client with the sole intent of living there as a family home. We would like to claim exemption from the BNG issues as it appears to be tagged on through a poor choice of bureocracy.
The Planning officer is insisting that an existing building conversion cannot constitute a self build. However the Housing act states "building or completion" of a new home which I understand creates an umbrella scenario for other projects such as barn conversions and the like.
In one email the Planner has suggest that we should have applied for change of use and then subsequently a house holder app for the rear, great hindsight but not the advice given by the department initially.
They have also suggested that the clients need to live in the property for a 'period' and then reapply for householder permission.
All of which seem time consuming and potentially costly to the client.
I should say that CIL has no issues with this, we have also completed similar projects in other local authorites with absolutely no issues.
Has anyone got any experience of adaptive reuse under the housing act in terms of claiming exemptions under BNG on an existing property.
Many thanks.
John.
