Property News: Town Hall considers no longer sending planning letters to those affected by developments
Published: 02 June 2011
by DAN CARRIER
WHOLESALE changes to the planning system in Camden could mean neighbours no longer receive letters informing them of developments in their street.
A consultation is currently taking place to ask the borough’s residents for their views on how to make the process more efficient as the Town Hall seeks ways to reduce costs in the face of government cuts.
But the prospect of scrapping letters from the council’s planning department to gauge views of those living close to proposed building projects has met a storm of protest from civic groups who claim it could mean developers and home-owners getting planning permission without the chance for those who may be affected by it knowing what is in store.
They may only discover building work is taking place when lorries and cement mixers show up in their street.
Labour councillor Sue Vincent, the council’s environment chief who is overseeing the consultation, said: “We have to save money and work out how we can be more efficient.
“Sending letters has not actually got a high level of response. We get only 3 per cent of people contacted this way coming back to us. The majority of responses come though amenity and civic groups.”
Cllr Vincent has suggested making signs on lampposts bolder and easier to understand, and encouraging residents to become more involved with conservation area advisory committees.
Other plans include email alerts and improving information given on the council’s planning website.
She said: “We hope this could also have the added effect of getting more people involved in residents’ associations and conservation area committees.”
Currently the charge to submit a planning application is set nationally – but it could soon be transferred to the council to set the rate. If this happens, Cllr Vincent has said she will look into increasing the cost by a small amount – and spend the extra revenue on ensuring every person within a set radius of any development receives a warning through the post.
She added: “I am considering looking at the planning application fee structure. If there is a way we can increase that to help the applicant inform neighbours then I’ll take that on board. When we are able to legally set our application fees, we’ll use it to ensure more people know.”
Camden Civic Society chairman Martin Morton said the group were against the idea of using lampposts signs as the only way to let people know of any potential building projects in their street.
“We are distinctly worried about this,” he said. “It is going to cause a lot of disquiet if it goes ahead.”
Mr Morton said that under the current system, using lampposts outside homes as noticeboards was inadequate.
“Sometimes they get vandalised and people rip them off,” he said. “And I am afraid to say they are sometimes removed maliciously by people who have made the application, to lessen any objections.”
Mr Morton said the developer should be made responsible for ensuring those affected by any building works notified them directly before an application goes in.
He added: “This would seem a fair and sensible way to go about it.”
The Highgate Society’s Michael Hammerson said he feared scrapping letters could make it even harder for neighbours to know what was going on.
He said: “Unless they can find a more efficient way, sending letters as well as putting signs up appears to be the best solution. Putting applications on websites and in newspapers does not always work. People can’t check every day to see whether there will be a basement being built next door to them.
“They say they are trying to save money but it strikes me as fairly small beer, and it could cost more money in the long-run as there will be problems caused by this.”