Mediation Plus, the community
mediation service for Eastbourne and Wealden, is concerned that Government plans
announced last week to relax planning permission requirements for property
extensions may trigger a wave of disputes among local
residents.
The service – which has been
providing independent and impartial community mediation since 2006 – deals with
an average of 120 cases each year. Among the most common causes of disputes
between home owners are parking, boundaries and extensions such as
conservatories and garages. The plans announced last week would allow extensions
of up to 6 meters – double the current limit – to be built without local
planning consent.
Service Manager
Clive Gross said “While the current planning process may seem cumbersome for
small developments like conservatories and garages, it does at least provide a
mechanism for genuine concerns about the impact of these works to be properly
considered. Any extension larger than
the current three meter rule may have significant implications for the occupiers
of the adjoining properties in terms of outlook and privacy. Doubling the
threshold seems to suggest that planners should only get involved when the
damage is potentially already done.”
Statistics from the Local
Government Association show that the proportion of planning applications
approved by town halls has risen over the past decade, reaching 87% last year.
Home owners who may previously have had planning permission refused for
legitimate reasons may now decide to exploit the proposed planning permission
‘holiday’ to go ahead with these schemes.
Mr Gross continued
“Mediation is a very effective way of resolving disputes, especially if people
come to us early before issues escalate. Unfortunately, once a building is up it
is usually too late and arguments can even turn violent. We hope the very short
public consultation process being scheduled for these proposals will allow the
Government to reflect fully on their implications.”
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