Brian Peters

[Twister_Ken]

In planning, nothing is ever totally and utterly undevelopable. District plans are revised regularly and changes made to categories. It was all fields round here once!

 

[savageseadog]

Planning Law is a collection of rules and precedents subject to addition or modification at the whim of government. There are cover-all clauses in the regulations that will basically allow anything to happen, quite legally using phrases like "to provide a benefit to the local community" or "pressing need".

Affordable housing is allowed on green belt or land outside settlement boundaries, has anyone defined a legally watertight definition of affordable housing? Affordable housing for millionaires?

 

[Sybarite]

How can one rack up 60 grand of legal costs over a decision as to whether a plot of land is constructible or not?

 

[Ubergeekian]

Planning Law is a collection of rules and precedents subject to addition or modification at the whim of government. There are cover-all clauses in the regulations that will basically allow anything to happen, quite legally using phrases like "to provide a benefit to the local community" or "pressing need".

Or, in Scotland, "Donald Trump wants it" ... the evidence here being that Scottish government representatives assured him that he'd win any appeal even before he applied for permission.

 

[Twister_Ken]

How can one rack up 60 grand of legal costs over a decision as to whether a plot of land is constructible or not?

Lawyering is one of the creative professions.

 

[sarabande]

£500 hour for a brief plus back office for a week, plus perhaps an "opinion" from a QC.

Monopoly money for someone of P's hard-earned altruistic wealth. Especially when you consider the increased value of the land and his house.

Don't forget that the local authority Chief planning officer will be on £60000 a year....