Its a mad, mad, mad planners world

Welcome to the maze that is the world of local council planning.

Following the refusal of our application I decided that I would try for a change of the approved house position to something that suits our needs better, and gives more useable garden. All I've done is to turn the house through 90 degrees and move it nearer the garage. It is still the same basic shape and style of that which was approved in 2006. If anything, its an improvement as it has a smaller footprint and is less obvious from the nearest road. So an appointment with the planning officer this afternoon was eagerly awaited. The first problem was a call this morning to say that the planning officer had called in sick. However, another officer agreed to meet me so off I went.

"Hmmm, hmmmmm, ho hum, hmmm" - said the planning officer, "need to see my boss". 2 minutes later and a shake of the head. No can do - it needs another full planning application with the attendant delay and cost. The only good news was the comment that it would probably get approval! Note the use of the word "probably". There are no certainties in planning it seems.

And so we have a dilemma. The existing planning permission expires in April next year. Once upon a time a renewal was just a simple process, but not any more. A renewal now has to be a full re-application and subject to all the vagaries that any plan is subject to. With a timescale of at least 10 weeks from commissioning a drawing to getting planning permission (or more likely, refusal), we're running dangerously close to that deadline. So, I have devised a cunning plan Baldrick. Apparently, I will get an amendment if I move the existing property along the plot a little (what's "a little?), so I intend to present my revised floor layout in the same line on the plot and seek approval so that in the event of a further refusal we have at least got an alternative. Mind you , we'll have to have the full engineering drawings produced and then get started before April, but that can be done.

In the meantime I will get the revised application under way for where we really want the house and present this for approval. If it fails then we do still have something.

Its like walking in treacle!

Exhausted of Clifton