Planning - Legal advice regarded urgently.

[disad-vantage-d]

I apologise if I am on the wrong part of the forum for this.

I require some advice regarding a planning application concerning a change of use to a former nursing home in my village and was hoping there may be someone on here who could shed some light.

It has come to notice, purely by chance that a PLC has purchased a premises in the centre of our small village and has applied for a change of use.

I do not really want to go into the rights and wrongs as to their intended use.

I am more concerned as to our local authorities handling of this matter. In that they have strictly limited the notice of planning to a handful of properties within only a few yards of the premises. Including informing only the first six houses in a terrace of twelve opposite the premises.

The notice itself gives no information to indicate any intended use for the premises (of which there are serious concerns).

The manner in which this has been submitted has raised concerns in the village that this has been a deliberate act of complicity between the PLC concerned and the local authority planning department, so as not to raise objection.
This suspicion is given further weight by the fact that the PLC involved is actually featured on the local authority website.

I have researched objecting to planning applications and the whole process appears rather one sided.

But my query here is: How can our local authority be trusted to make an impartial decision and we seriously question their integrity in this process, particularly in view of their apparent affiliation with this company? And is there any way of questioning, challenging them or complaining on this basis?

We would really appreciate any qualified advice regarding this...

Edited by disad-vantage-d on Thursday 18th September 00:28

[disad-vantage-d]

Thanks for that.

With regard to councillors, we are trying to engage. But are a little suspicious as to their allegiances.

[disad-vantage-d]

Thank you all for replying. I am taking on board all of your suggestions. I intend to make some phone calls tomorrow and will update accordingly.

[disad-vantage-d]

GreatGranny said:

Link to planning application ?

The planning application merely wants the restriction on being a home for the elderly removed.

[disad-vantage-d]

Hub said:

I doubt there is a ploy to limit objections, they could be done by the ombudsman if they don't do the right thing.

Are there no notices on lampposts? They normally do that even if writing to a few directly adjoining properties.

We believe they have done the absolute minimum required in order to minimise the exposure of the proposed change of use,
in the knowledge that otherwise there would be considerable public objection.

[disad-vantage-d]

Hub said:

I doubt there is a ploy to limit objections, they could be done by the ombudsman if they don't do the right thing.

Are there no notices on lampposts? They normally do that even if writing to a few directly adjoining properties. Contact your ward Councillor if you have concerns.

Which Ombudsman would that be?

[disad-vantage-d]

elanfan said:

What's the betting they want to change the use to house young offenders or yoofs with 'behaviour' problems and your low crime rate and anti social stuff will go through the roof.

Trouble is no-one wants it on their doorstep!

As I said in my original post, I did not want this to gravitate towards a moratorium about the actual use of the premises and concentrate on the concerns regarding the planning process.
However, you have scored a bullseye...

[disad-vantage-d]

terry tibbs said:

i don't much care for your comments about it all being one sided it isn't, its far from perfect, but its not that bad either, at least you are allowed to be involved

Well, the applicant can appeal if the decision does not go their way, yet the objector(s) cannot. That's about as one sided as you can get?

But thanks for your input, as to everyone else who has commented.