Gavin Ayling: English, Rationalist and Libertarian
And what criteria do you use to yea or nay, Gavin?
There are specific criteria which must be adhered to in all Planning Authorities: most importantly the Local Plan. The amount of subjectivity that can have an impact on planning decisions is limited which means that we sometimes must refuse things we would support and must approve things we would refuse.
The worst thing, though, is the amount of power we sometimes have over things that affect no-one. For example, if you have a building in your back garden that you use as a tool-shed you cannot change that to use as a granny-flat without permission even if no-one outside your property could tell... A terrible intrusion if you ask me.
Also, there is this document which puts it all in one place...
A terrible intrusion if you ask me.
Can this sort of thing be reversed? Is there any desire on the part of local authorities to remove the more ludicrous clauses?
Much of the power to make that sort of change is not in the local authorities' hands.
Most is held by Whitehall and most of what is left is held by the non-democratic Regional Assemblies (to the best of my knowledge).
Commenting by HaloScan
