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2054, Part III: The Singularity
RESIDENTS say a huge barn conversion on the edge of their village is a planning “apocalypse”.
Villagers in Paul, near Penzance, Cornwall, are incensed by the building development and claim it has breached legislation.
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They allege the “unsightly” conversion makes a “mockery” of central and local government, CornwallLive reports.
Locals, who demand their council take enforcement action, also say no trees have been planted at the site.
A spokesperson for the group of residents said: “The huge new building, allowed within ‘permitted development under Class Q’, is completely out of keeping with all others in the picturesque village in terms of both style and size.
“In addition, much of the work going on at the site, on former agricultural fields, is openly flouting the relevant government legislation, apparently with impunity.
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“There is also a long-standing unfulfilled tree planting condition at the site, the purpose of which was to visually screen the original building and any subsequent conversion.
“No trees were ever planted.”
An application was made to convert the barn to dwellings in December 2021.
The conversion is said to be in its final stages after a developer purchased the site from a farming family.
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Cornwall Council now say the property has breached planning control following repeated protests by locals.
A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “The council can confirm that it is currently investigating alleged breaches of planning control at this particular site and that after inspecting the land and having met with the landowners it has concluded that a breach of planning control has occurred.
“It is the council’s understanding that a retrospective planning application will be submitted in due course seeking to address the works which have been undertaken.”
The row comes after locals living near a Norfolk beauty spot accused a neighbour of building an illegal holiday home.
Elsewhere in Kent, a hotelier became so worried about a next-door pub being demolished for newbuild homes, he has bought it himself.
Others, like Redrow, told to tear down developments include a family in Bolton, Greater Manchester, who had built an extension.
And locals in Newport in Wales criticised “jobsworth” officials wanting them to remove privacy fences.
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What are your retrospective planning permission rights?
A local planning authority can invite a retrospective application, according to Gov.uk.
You should submit your application without delay.
Although a local planning authority may invite an application, you must not assume permission will be granted.
A person who has undertaken unauthorised development has only one opportunity to obtain planning permission after the event.
This can either be through a retrospective planning application or an appeal against an enforcement notice – on the grounds that planning permission should be granted or the conditions should be removed.
The local planning authority can decline a retrospective planning application if an enforcement notice has previously been issued.
No appeal may be made if an enforcement notice is issued within the time allowed for determination of a retrospective planning application.
