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The Committee received a presentation from the Planning Manager which gave an update to the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO) and Use Classes Order (UCO) and covered the following:
GPDO
Regulations under the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development and Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 come into force between 25 June and 1 August 2020.
Part 3 Class M, N, O, P, PA and Q
- now include the requirement for the provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the dwelling houses.
- allows applications to be refused if natural light is not provided.
Part 3, paragraph W
- for validation purposes, applications are invalid now if a plan with certain requirements is not submitted.
Schedule 2 Part 1
- class AA, enlargement of a dwelling house by construction of additional storeys and subject to conditions
Schedule 2 Part 20
- class ZA, allows for demolition of buildings and construction of dwelling houses, subject to conditions and also prior approval
- class AA, new dwelling houses on detached buildings in commercial or mixed use and subject to prior approval and conditions
- class AB, new dwelling houses on terrace buildings in commercial or mixed use and subject to prior approval and conditions
- class AC, new dwelling houses on
terrace buildings in use as dwelling houses subject to prior approval and conditions
- class AD, new dwelling houses on detached buildings in use as dwelling houses subject to certain criteria
Use Classes Order
'Sui generis' - term given to the uses of land or buildings not
falling into any of the use classes identified by the UCO. The non-exhaustive list is expanded by the Amendment Regulations to
include various classes.
New use classes F1 relating to learning and "non-residential institutions" and F2 relating to "local community" uses.
The Planning Manager drew attention to the chart at the end of the presentation which contained a Guide to Use Classes Order Changes in England from 1 September 2020. There would be ramifications under Class E for the high street and out of town shops. The slides were available on the Council's website via CMIS and in response to a Member's question, she confirmed that a copy of the chart could be provided to Members of the Committee. The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Planning and Coastal Management stated there was a great deal to take on board with these changes to permitted development and use classes.
Members further commented on the need for a definitive map of AONB boundaries and the Conservation Areas and it was confirmed the information was on the main policies map in the Local Plan. Concern was expressed that the changes might result in windows and ugly roof changes occurring in a Conservation Area but welcomed the fact that the Government was trying to get houses built. The Planning Manager confirmed the proposals related to development outside of those protected areas and would not apply to Listed Buildings. At the request of Members, the Planning Manager advised that the presentation was published on the website with the Agenda papers and could be circulated to all Members of the Council and to the Town and Parish Councils too.
The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Planning and Coastal Management explained that the changes had been announced and introduced from 1 September, without prior consultation, and he thanked the Planning Manager for a very informative presentation.