Our client had bought a plot of land where they had attained pre-application advice stating that planning permission would likely be granted for their proposed dwelling due to the council's housing land supply situation. However, while the formal application was progressing the 'nutrient neutrality' issue changed in the area and they had to attain agreement for a bespoke mitigation strategy.
By the time the mitigation strategy had been agreed the national policy of housing land supply had changed and the planning officers advised that they could not longer support the application and it was refused. This was a huge issue for our client as he now had a plot of land where planning policy would not support a new house. It was at this point that the client contacted RCC asking if we would prepare a planning appeal for him against the refusal.
Our advice was that, at that time in early 2024, the chances of success on appeal was too limited to suggest that approach. Instead we advised him to wait until policies changed with the new Government likely to be coming in. Later in 2024 it then became clear that the national planning policy on housing land supply would change back in his favour and as such we recommended a new planning application.
There were plenty of issues still raised but we would so pleased that permission was finally granted on he has his permission for his new home.
