Although planning permission can be difficult to understand for a lot of people, many of them know that if planning permission is rejected, this will be a major setback to a project’s development, financial plan and viability. Planning permission can be rejected for different reasons, some of which might not be immediately obvious. Below, we are going to look at some of the most common reasons why planning permission might be refused.
Project Impossibility in Principle
Impossibility in principle might sound like legal jargon, but it is a fairly easy concept to understand. Rejection due to impossibility in principle means that your plan has got a critical aspect of the development wrong.
A common example is in estate conversion where there is a minimum requirement for the area inside the original property. If the original property does not meet this technical requirement, then everything else in the plan for the conversion and new development is irrelevant and planning permission is rejected.
Impact on Neighbouring Amenities
Another reason for planning permission refusal is how the development will affect nearby amenities. Amenities in this case covers different functions and features both inside and outside the property. For neighbouring amenities, think gardens, balconies, security features and parking. If the plan impacts any of these amenities, planning permission will not be granted.
To ensure planning permission is not rejected for this reason, check and follow local design guidelines. Looking at designs and plans that have been approved will give you an idea of whether your plan will pass or not.
Not Meeting Quality Standards
Local councils and building committees take the quality of accommodation of the people living in the new property, building or house very seriously. Because of this, they strive to ensure that every development meets minimum quality standards such as amenity and minimum space requirements.
Negative Effect on Nature
If your new build is going to have any negative effects on the landscape and wildlife, planning permission will be rejected. Planning committees do not want to approve planning permission for plans that will be detrimental to wildlife habitats, their environments, as well as the larger environment.
In most cases, the planning committee will look at the effects of the development on endangered or protected animal species included in the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations of 2017, such as bats, for example. So, if you have bats on or close to the area of development, you need to have a bat survey carried out. Having a bat survey done by surveyors like Arbtech can help show that the mitigation measures you propose are adequate to protect the bat species in your area. In addition to bat surveys, Arbtech also carry out biodiversity, tree and other types of surveys to help you obtain planning permission quickly.
Privacy Concerns
Privacy is one aspect of planning that is often forgotten, but it is a major reason why planning permission may not be granted. Privacy, in this case, refers to a new development infringing on the privacy of neighbours. A common example is a building or property addition that overlooks another property, therefore, invading other people’s privacy.
These concerns are often raised by neighbours who are called to bring their input on new development proposals. This concern is understandable because no one wants to feel like they do not have adequate privacy on their homes or property.
Loss of Natural Light
This reason for rejection goes hand in hand with rejection due to privacy concerns. If the new build overlooks other properties, it may lead to loss of natural light to these other properties. Natural light is important for daily life and blocking it might be the reason why your planning permission is rejected.
Loss of Family Homes
Projects where family dwellings are to be converted into flats often result in the loss of family homes. These projects are deemed to have a negative effect on the neighbourhood amenity as well as the size of the house in the neighbourhood, especially in areas where there is a requirement to have houses of a particular size.
Negative Impact of Appearance and Character
All developments have an impact on the character and appearance of their surroundings, whether negative or positive. The impact of a development on the appearance and character of its surroundings is subjective, but it has to be taken into account in conversation areas.
No Immediate Necessity
Some projects are not necessary depending on their location. For instance, if you want to open a shop on a street that has numerous other businesses of the same type, you will need to prove why this particular development is necessary. Failure to do so will result in planning permission rejection.
Planning Permission For Businesses
For any size of business, be it large or small, planning permission just won’t be accepted if a business does not meet the necessary quality standards. Common issues when it might not reach the standards include required the minimum required space standards, and also other amenity requirements.
Tying in with other aspects, a badly planned location also means that a project will have its planning permission rejected. The location might be ideal for your business in terms of footfall and surrounding businesses, but if it has an impact on the environment, it will be rejected or revoked. Take nature into consideration when working on planning permission.
Increased Parking and Traffic Pressure
Additional pressure on traffic and parking spaces often comes up in many conversion or change-of-use proposals. For example, converting a single dwelling into a flat without providing adequate parking space will breed some problems. Also, the new flat might lead to traffic, especially on streets and neighbourhoods that were not designed to handle the increased amount of traffic.
If you do not provide adequate parking space or if there will be a substantial increase in traffic pressure on existing infrastructure, you will likely get a rejection.
Safety Hazard or Use of Hazardous Materials
The materials you choose for the development should not be a safety hazard for either the environment or the people who will occupy the new build. These materials should also be safe during and after construction. To avoid rejection, ensure that you know about each of the materials that will be used in the project. If you have any doubts, it is always best to do some research or ask a contractor about these materials.
The reasons outlined above may be why your planning permission is rejected. Consulting widely, carrying out proper surveys, and tweaking your plan to stay within set rules, regulations and guidelines can all help ensure your planning permission gets the green light.
