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News and Resources
Useful Information, guidance and some of our recent successes for our Clients
News, Resources and Tips
Planning granted in the South Downs National Park
Class R Change of use and Full Planning Approved
Changes of Use - A useable principle
We are excited to have obtained Planning Permission for construction of a beautiful custom-designed home in the South Downs National Park.
The 460m2 house was carefully laid out to meet the ambition of the owners who will soon begin construction of their dream home - supported by EXL.
EXL managed the process throughout, procuring and coordinating all consultant inputs. We lead all aspects of design, liaising regularly with our Clients to fully understand their vision and ensure it was embedded into the proposals. We also maintained a close eye on planning acceptability, mindful of the National Park location and the need to balance ambition with respect for the local character.
We have recently secured two valuable Change of Use consents for our Clients on one countryside site. A Class R approval established the principle of 500m2 of Commercial floorspace by conversion of an existing Barn.
A subsequent application built on those principles to secure full planning permission to convert part of another Barn into additional Commercial space - a total of 1100m2 of lettable area.
The Class R Approval is highly flexible, allowing the floorspace to be used for any purpose with Use Classes B2, B8 or E.
Did you know that Permitted Development allows 26 different Changes of Use? Most people are familiar with Class Q - allowing Agricultural Barns to be converted to Houses - but few people know just how many similar Rights there are available. More importantly, these could have major positive implications for your site.
EXL were recently asked to look at unlocking a site with a poor planning history - several lost appeals for housing in a countryside location. We successfully established the principle of Commercial Development on the site by applying Permitted Development Changes of Use to existing buildings. Having done so, we were then able to argue that Housing on the same site would have less impact than the Commercial uses already established - overcoming the previous reasons for refusal.
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