New Planning guidance being applied to existing applic

[bobbybo]

Hi all

any Architects, town planners or similair that could help with a planning issue?

have an application in for 17 student flats in a site of 0.29 hectares, application for planning went in start of December 2015 and had 20 objections so had to go to planning committee, we got the locals appeased and were waiting for Planning committee decision this week but was pushed back a month, and now this week planners are saying new guidance has came into effect that sites above 0.25Hectares need to give 50% affordable housing! eek

apparently the architect has spoken to 2 planning consultants who say the Council are within rights to apply new guidance to existing applications, would like to seek more opinions and PH has some talented people, appreciate all replies

cheers

Rob

[Rangeroverover]

I'm not sure how it works in Scotland but here in the sunny west country the whole point of doing student builds is we don't have to provide social housing, parking or amenity space, thats why every new build here is student stuff rather than normal resi

[olivebrown]

You could argue on Viability.

[b0rk]

What use class have you applied under? class 7, class 8 or class 9. If you've applied under class 9 it might be worth reconsidering an application under class 7 or 8 so long as the scheme you've had designed would comply. The really big student schemes will almost always be class 8.

[bobbybo]

thanks for all replies

viability is a good option to argue, 50% affordable seems a lot to offer

otherwise for standard flats it is 25% affordable or £ for 12 units or more..

planning class is Student accomodation 'sui generis' does not have a classification but residentialy Hmo type

guidelines for 50% affordable were in draft form last year, now published end of February 2016, my application went in end of Nov15 and was due to be decixed by committee in end of April

apparently from 2 planning consultants and 1 planning lawyer the council can apply new guidance on applications underway

meeting soon with council to see what they want, maybe change to HMO or normal flats but that can impact on parking spaces etc, will see