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Dr Clarke (right) with neighbour Noreen Potter outside the converted house in Freegrove Road |
Developer could be forced to tear down conversion
Opponents claim scheme was making ‘mockery’ of planning law
A UNIVERSITY professor has won her fight to stop a developer making a “mockery” of planning laws.
She objected to the developer converting a terraced property in Freegrove Road, Holloway, without first getting planning permission.
Now he will have to take his case to the Planning Inspectorate for appeal and could be forced to pull the conversion down.
Dr Linda Clarke, a research lecturer in employment relations at the University of Westminster, urged Islington’s West Area Planning Committee to refuse “retrospective” permission for the property, which dates from 1870.
The Victorian building had been converted from a single family house into three small flats.
Dr Clarke and other residents argued that the conversion was a high density “over development” and was having an “adverse impact” on the local Hillmartin conservation area.
Dr Clarke added: “One moment we had got a letter saying the developer was seeking planning permission for a conversion. The next the work had already started.
“We rang Islington’s planning department and asked what was going on. We asked why we were being consulted over something that was happening anyway.
“The council’s planners told us that it was the developer’s risk.”
Dr Clarke said it appeared that developers often sought retrospective planning permission because they thought they could get away with it.
Another resident, Noreen Potter, said that too many properties in the street were being converted into flats.
“The conversions are often extremely poor quality and ruin well-constructed Victorian houses,” she said.
The committee, chaired by Labour Councillor Paul Convery, voted unanimously against giving permission for the conversion.
Cllr Convery said that although the law allows retrospective planning permission, developers should not automatically assume that they will always get it.
Labour Councillor Rupert Perry said he could sympathise with residents who get angry over developments that have already been built before debate and permission has been granted.
“Seeking retrospective planning permission is not a very neighbourly thing to do,” Cllr Perry said.
“It means there is no opportunity to change it or reach a compromise at committee stage.
“We will always look very closely at developments like this.”
The members voted against the scheme despite it being considered by Islington’s planning officers to be “appropriate” with guide lines.
The developer could reapply for planning permission to Islington council if he alters the scheme.
The Islington Tribune emailed the developer with a list of questions but the developer’s spokesman replied: “Further to your enquiries this is to advise you that we are seeking advice.” |
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