Churchill & Churchill

Interim Assignment: GLA

Interim assignment at the Planning Decisions Unit of the Greater London Authority from October 2007 to July 2008

The Planning Decisions Unit deals with all the strategic level planning applications that are referred to the London Mayor under the provisions of the Greater London Authority Act 2007, subsequently amended by more recent legislation.  See link to Mayoral planning decisions:

Churchill and Churchill provided advice to the Mayor on many planning applications including the redevelopment of Richmond Park Golf Course:

The Mayor also has a role in deciding on the conformity of the London Boroughs’ Local Development Frameworks. See link for details:

In particular Churchill and Churchill represented the Mayor at the hearings into the Kingston Area Action Plan:

The Brent Core Strategy and Site Allocations DPD

The Redbridge Core Strategy:

Churchill and Churchill also commented on the Local Development Schemes, Core Strategies and other Supplementary Planning Documents across London

Churchill and Churchill represented the Mayor in close discussions and negotiations with the Government Office for London about the new GLA Act and the regulations.

During the assignment to the GLA Churchill and Churchill was seconded onto a project team set up to look at how the Lifetime Homes standards were being implemented. We helped to produce the brief for consultants who were going to carry out the work, sat on the appointments panel and sat on the project management board.

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Interim Assignment: Havant Borough Council

Havant Borough Council had just lost their previous Head of Planning Policy who had retired after 19 years in post. Churchill and Churchill was appointed to act as the Interim Head of Planning Policy, Urban Design and Landscape Architecture with a specific remit to engage and reinvigorate the team to ensure that the Core Strategy was moved onto the next stage.  Guiding the team through the Local Development Framework process and helping to move towards Preferred Options Churchill and Churchill sought to actively encourage a closer working relationship with the Development Management service of the authority. As part of the assignment Churchill and Churchill also undertook to look at the way in which the planning service was delivered and began to initiate a review of service delivery mechanisms.

Whilst at Havant Churchill and Churchill represented the authority on the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Planning Officers Group and on several working groups of the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire particularly with reference to Sustainability, Employment and Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation issues.

Churchill and Churchill acted as the lead planning officer on the redevelopment of the Civic Campus site and was instrumental in arranging for the first event in the public consultation process as part of this project. The “Walking Audit’ was hosted by external consultants who had been appointed by Churchill and Churchill to produce a masterplan for the Civic Campus site as part of a wider project to develop a unique Civic Service Village to serve the residents of Havant Borough.

Throughout the assignment Churchill and Churchill worked closely with other senior managers within the Department of Organisational Development and were guided by Tim Slater, Head of Service.

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Interim Assignment: Basildon District Council

Churchill and Churchill were engaged by Basildon District Council (www.basildon.gov.uk) on behalf of Basildon Renaissance the Local Regeneration Partnership  to further develop some background evidence and work on the future housing delivery strategy for the district.

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Interim Assignment: South Somerset District Council

Following the departure of the Planning Policy Team Leader Flo Churchill of Churchill and Churchill was appointed to head the team and to ensure that the Local Development Framework was progressed in line with the Local Development Scheme that was also to be revised. Flo supervised the drafting and development of further parts of the Evidence Base for the Core Strategy.

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The Trouble with Flat Roofs

A client had suffered a burglary where entry was gained to the property via a flat roof on the front elevation. The design solution was the creation of a pitched roof to replace the flat roof element and so reducing the risk of crime re-occurring. An application was submitted to The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and was subsequently approved.

Please note that you may not always need planning permission to change a flat roof to a pitch – for further advice contact us.

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Ancillary?

In planning terms ancillary has a specific meaning thus:

“Ancillary Use - a subsidiary or secondary use or operation closely associated with the main use of a building or piece of land.”

This may mean that you may not need planning permission to use either land or buildings if that use is closely connected with the primary or major use of the land and/or buildings. Planning practice in this area can sometimes not be straightforward so contact us to seek advice.

Churchill and Churchill has provided advice on ancillary uses and buildings as varied as Water Buffalo accommodation to Llama Farms to the creation of Pig Styes in domestic gardens to the creation of hobby rooms in garages.