Derby Archives - Page 2 of 12 - Planning Design Ltd

Senior Architect joins Planning & Design Practice

25th July 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice are excited to announce further expansion of its architectural team with the addition of Senior Architect David Symons.

David is an RIBA Chartered Architect who studied architecture at the University of Nottingham, and with experience working in practice in both the UK and Canada.

Prior to Planning & Design David was Project Architect as part of a practice of 60 and responsible for constructions budgets upwards of £20M. David has experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and working with diverse clients including local authorities, property developers, and top-ranking higher education institutions on projects ranging from town centre regeneration utilising government future high street funding, commercial office fit outs and university projects throughout the West Midlands and Nationally.

David worked for a time in Vancouver, Canada for a large practice producing detailed designs and feasibility studies for large-scale mixed-use master plans, residential and office high-rises. He also has strong local knowledge having previously worked in the residential and domestic architecture sector in the East Midlands for 5 years, gaining an understanding of the physical and planning context of the area and developing a keen ability to translate a client’s design ambitions into reality.

On joining the practice, David Symons, Senior Architect at Planning & Design said:

“Having experience working on projects from the smallest to largest scale, it is great to be joining the Planning & Design team to assist with a strong existing portfolio of varied projects and during a period of growth in domestic enquiries and larger developer schemes. Having assisted with implementing transformative projects in other areas of the country, it is fantastic to be joining the team with such strong local connections during a time of great growth and change for Derby in particular.

I am excited to have the remit to apply creativity and innovation to all stages of the Planning and Design process with a team that are skilled and equipped to delivering fantastic projects.”

Michael Bamford, Director at Planning & Design said:

“We are excited to welcome David to the Architectural Team as Senior Architect. David is an enthusiastic Architect with a strong portfolio of large and small-scale projects that demonstrates his understanding and ability to work towards delivering the development that Clients want.

David’s early career working in Canada and the UK system has given him a broader understanding of the Architectural process and how this relates to securing planning permission and delivering projects as well as a good understanding of the complexities of designing within a historic environment, something which is vital in the work we do at Planning & Design.

David will be an integral part of the growth of our Architectural team over the next twelve months and we look forward to his role in supporting the team in achieving projects we can be proud of.“

Our approachable and experienced team comprises architects, architectural assistants, designers and technicians. Our architects have true international expertise having worked on large scale projects in Russia, Germany, Spain, Canada and the United States as well as across the UK. We offer a comprehensive design service through all the RIBA work stages from concept through to completion.

Planning & Design Practice believe in good architecture, to improve our quality of life, create real value and to drive sustainable development, creating robust, resilient homes and buildings to face the challenges of climate change. For a no obligation consultation to discuss your project or property, please get in touch.

Extension granted

19th July 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice is pleased to announce that planning permission has been granted for an extension to a home in Hulland Ward, a village in the Derbyshire Dales.

Located just outside the Settlement Development Boundary of Hulland Ward, this dwelling was previously converted from a barn, permission for which was granted in 2003. Policy in the Local Plan restricts extensions on conversion of existing buildings; however, this policy was brought in after permission was granted for the conversion of the barn. Therefore, we successfully argued that it can now be considered as a ‘dwelling’ and not a ‘barn-conversion’, meaning that it would be subject to the relevant policies.

The proposal was for a lean-to extension to the dwelling, which uses materials that assimilate with the agricultural character of the dwelling. The proposed extension was located in the same location as a previous extension prior to the conversion of the barn to a dwelling.

Prior to submitting the application, we submitted a pre-application enquiry to Derbyshire Dales Council with indicative plans. Our open and honest communication with the Council and our client allowed us to successfully reach a set of plans that were agreeable to each party.

It was considered by the Council that the proposed extension submitted would not cause any harm to the amenity of neighbouring occupants, and that the modest size and materials proposed would not adversely impact the character and appearance of the site.

Our team of experienced professionals work with home owners on a daily basis to provide the technical knowledge, design ideals and the relevant expertise to help guide them through what can be a daunting process.

Whether you need help from a planning expert to decide what you might be able to achieve, or help designing your dream home, here at Planning & Design we will listen to your aspirations and help you to understand what can be achieved. Our team can be there for you every step of the way, from the conception of an idea to the production of design proposals and the achievement of planning permission. Contact us on 01332 347371 for a no obligation consultation to discuss your project.

Emily Anderson, Planner, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Five’s alive at Glapwell

11th July 202321st June 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice are pleased to announce the granting of outline permission for 5 dormer bungalows at land to the rear of 65 The Hill, Glapwell, Derbyshire.

The site is wholly located within the development envelope for Glapwell, situated behind properties fronting onto The Hill. Prior to the application, we submitted pre-application enquiries to both the Derbyshire County Council Highway Authority, and Bolsover District Council, to assess the suitability of the site. The results of these pre-application enquiries helped inform the next steps for the outline application.

The proposal was designed to be sympathetic to the local character and appearance of the area, and so that the low height of the bungalows would not cause any significant impacts on the amenity of future or existing neighbouring residents. Significant trees and hedges were protected on site, with the trees along the southern boundary of the site acting as screening to/from the countryside.

After submission of the outline application, conversation with the Council and statutory consultees resulted in further information needing to be submitted. This included a topographical survey and Slope Stability Report due to historical landslides in the area. The submitted reports, coupled with the other information submitted with the application, were found to be sufficient, resulting in an approval from the Council.

Backland development can sometimes be quite contentious applications, however, at PDP we work closely with the Council and other stakeholders to ensure a successful outcome for all parties.

We work with developers of all sizes, from small companies working on one property at a time to large housebuilders and commercial organisations where multi-million pound schemes are the norm.

Since being founded in 2002, we have established a strong reputation for providing honest and sound commercial advice, skilled presentation, advocacy and negotiation.

Our core planning and architectural expertise is supported by specialists in Heritage and Urban Design. We always think innovatively and a collaborative approach is at the heart of what we do.

For more information, or to discuss your proposals please contact us at enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk or phone 01332 347371.

Emily Anderson, Planner, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Approval (discharge) of planning conditions process

21st June 2023 by Gary Stringer

Discharge of Planning Conditions HIgh Peak

Chartered Town Planner Andrew Stock outlines the discharge of planning conditions and explains the impact that they may have on your development.

Congratulations!! You’ve received planning permission for your development.

However, do not assume that you can start building tomorrow. On the one hand, you may need to seek building regulations approval, and on the other, discharge of conditions will most likely apply.

Planning conditions are often applied to the grant of planning permission which can limit and control the way in which the planning permission must be implemented. Conditions may be imposed on the grant of planning permission for regulating development or use of any land, limiting works on the land to ensure the development can be approved through meeting specified requirements set out by the relevant local planning authority.

You will be required to detail how you intend to meet the conditions (e.g. the materials you will use) or provide supporting information to demonstrate compliance (for example a traffic assessment). This will allow for the local planning authority to approve the conditions (this is also known as ‘discharging conditions’). A single application can cover any number of conditions from the permission.

The discharge of a planning condition involves a formal application process where details relating to an approved development can be considered and a decision made on their acceptability.

The local authority should discharge conditions within 8 weeks. This begins when the Local Planning Authority accepts the application as valid. If no decision is made within 12 weeks, then the local authority must return the fee to the applicant.

An application for Approval of a Condition will cost:

For householder development: £34
Any other development type: £116

This does not apply to conditions on listed building consents, only planning permission.

Planning & Design Practice Ltd has extensive knowledge on the preparation, submission and management on the discharge of conditions process.

If you would like us to guide you thought the planning process from start to successful finish, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01332 347371 or via email at enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Fighting with the Green Belt

21st June 202320th June 2023 by Gary Stringer

Always an emotive topic and one that our main political parties are using to fight the housing crisis and win over the electorate, our Heritage Consultant Ruth Gray looks at the history, purpose and future of the Green Belt.

The Green Belt is an emotive topic and one that our main political parties are using to fight the housing crisis and win over the electorate. Back in 2020 The Heritage Alliance stated:

‘Government data shows that there has been a 62% increase in the loss of greenfield Green Belt land since 2013, with 315 hectares lost in 2016/17 alone. The National Government should develop clear guidance for local authorities on housing requirements to protect designated land, support the creation of new Green Belts where local authorities have established a clear need for them and ensure departments work together to direct economic and housing growth towards areas with capacity for redevelopment on brownfield sites. This will protect a significant proportion of our nature reserves and our valuable natural heritage.’ ¹

The nineteenth-century precedents for the greenbelt, (also at the time called ‘the agricultural belt’) include the 1837 plan for Adelaide attributed to William Light, and James Silk Buckingham’s scheme for a model town. The agricultural belt was promoted by the early Garden City movement. The agricultural belt was intended to give a precise edge to the town, provide fresh air, act as a buffer from surrounding communities, and be used for the production of food. Economically, it was a way of limiting the growth of the town, of controlling land speculation on the edges of the town, and of stabilizing the value of land in the surrounding agricultural area.²

From the concept of the agricultural belt arose a whole host of new green models that have that informed twentieth-century urban design: greenbelts, green wedges, greenwebs, green corridors, and greenways. But it is the greenbelt that receives the most attention and is integral to many political debates. The Metropolitan Green Belt around London was first proposed by the Greater London Regional Planning Committee in 1935. The Town and Country Planning Act 1947 then allowed local authorities to include green belt proposals in their development plans. In 1955, Minister of Housing Duncan Sandys encouraged local authorities around the country to consider protecting land around their towns and cities by the formal designation of clearly defined green belts. The Green Belt we know today has remained largely unreviewed throughout the post-war era. ³

Today the Green Belt has become a bit of a political football between the two main parties and a recent government survey found that there is considerable misunderstanding about the purpose and function of green belt, including that people often conflated Green Belt and green fields, and overlook its original purpose having been to keep urban areas apart. ⁴ Recent proposals to change the planning system within the ‘Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill’, have some commentators arguing that the need for housing will only be met if development takes place on the Green Belt. As things stand, local councils decide their own housing requirements while considering local needs and whether building on the green belt is necessary. The Governments Research Briefing released on 7 February 2023 states:

‘The Government has proposed amending the NPPF to make clear that local planning authorities “are not required to review and alter Green Belt boundaries if this would be the only way of meeting [housing] need in full”. It has also suggested that National Development Management Policies, which the Bill would introduce, might include protections for Green Belt land.’ ⁵

Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour would give English councils more powers to build on green belt land to boost housing. However, he said construction would only take place where it does not “affect the beauty of our countryside”.⁶ Housing targets will come back under Labour but expect to be relaxed under the Conservatives. The current Conservative government are under pressure from their backbenchers to protect Green Belt from further development whilst Labour plan to increase powers to build. More power to local authorities and residents over development are being promised by both main parties. Either way the green belt is set to be the focus of much debate in the run up to the general election.

It is no doubt a complex process to consider development within the Green Belt however, Planning & Design are experts in assisting property and landowners with planning enquiries so please do get in touch on 01332 347371.

Ruth Gray, Heritage Consultant, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Saddle up for equestrian success

5th June 202317th May 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice is pleased to announce that planning permission has been secured for use of an existing stable block and equestrian facilities as a livery yard for up to 5 horses in addition to the existing private use of the facilities.

The application site currently comprises equestrian land with a stable block, canter track, menage and associated lighting for private use. These facilities were completed in 2022 to provide horse riding and livery facilities for the applicants and their family. However, the applicants have had many requests from close-by horse owners for use of their livery and equestrian facilities. Therefore, the approved permission will make more efficient use of the site, which is currently underutilised as the residents are often competing away in the evenings and on weekends.

We understand that the proposed use of the equestrian facilities would not be essential to the rural economy, but it would be otherwise appropriate in the countryside given that the keeping of horses is an appropriate rural pursuit. In line with local plan policy SP8, the development provides facilities for the use of the general public or local community close to an existing settlement and creates a new business appropriate to the countryside.

There will be no adverse impacts on highways safety, flood risk, heritage assets or the amenities of surrounding occupiers and no other significant planning issues have been raised by the proposal.

Despite what is often thought about the limitations of rural planning policy, there are many routes homeowners, landowners and farmers in rural areas can take in order to secure new development. We have vast experience of working on rural projects including equestrian development, barn conversions and tourist accommodation.

If you are looking to secure planning permission for a property or business please call us on 01332 347371 . We provide an initial no obligation consultation and can help you make the right decision.

Megan Askham, Planner – Planning & Design Practice Ltd.

Full planning permission granted unhindered by Class Q legislation

6th June 202317th May 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice is pleased to announce that full planning permission has recently been secured for the change of use and conversion of a modern agricultural building to form a single house within the defined countryside in Derbyshire Dales.

Class Q Legislation — ***Figure 1:*** *Photograph of the Dutch barn to be converted*

The Planning Team successfully secured Class Q approval for the change of use and conversion of the modern steel portal Dutch Barn in the first quarter of 2022. Following further instruction from our client Planning & Design Practice Ltd were tasked with securing Full planning permission utilising the clients ‘Fallback’ position for works which would fall outside of the scope of Class Q legislation.

Additional alterations include:

Wholesale replacement of all exterior cladding and roofing material;
Residential curtilage extension;
Installation of Solar PV Panels; and
Installation of external flue.

The application was accompanied by detailed illustrative plans prepared by our inhouse Architectural Team. The external alterations to the building in this scheme have been sensitively designed to respect the agricultural character of the existing building and its rural surroundings, and only consist of the insertion of windows to provide a functional but attractive internal living environment which were reasonably necessary for the building to function as a house.

***Figure 4:*** *Approved first floor plan*

The Full planning application route provided a fantastic opportunity for a much more comprehensive and coherent conversion unhindered by the parameters of Class Q legislation. The updated conversion proposals put forward would see all the existing exterior cladding (corrugated metal sheeting, fibre cement sheeting and timber boarding) removed and replaced with more energy efficient exterior wall and roofing materials.

The proposed Solar PV panels that would provide the majority of the electricity for the dwellinghouse and primary heating would be provided by a Ground Source Heat Pump system with a coil that is to be located to the west of the building.

The Court of Appeal in the case of ‘Mansell v Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council [2017] EWCA Civ 1314’ clarified when a ‘fallback’ development may be a material planning consideration for an alternative development scheme. The Mansell case reference as part of the submission confirmed that the previous approval secured under Class Q should be a material consideration in an application for alternative development as it represents a legitimate fallback position for residential development.

It was successfully argued that when having regard to the Court of Appeal decision and the benefits which the proposed scheme would deliver over the fallback scheme, planning permission should be granted.

The application was approved by the Local Planning Authority under delegated powers within the 8-week determination period.

We have vast experience of working on barn conversions both via Full planning and/or prior approval (Class Q) application routes. For a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Andrew Stock, Associate Director – Chartered Town Planner, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Behind the scenes of Derby Museums

17th May 202317th May 2023 by Gary Stringer

Member of the Planning & Design Practice team were fortunate recently to be given a behind the scenes tour of one of the Derby Museums storage facilities. Our Heritage Consultant Ruth Gray reports on our visit.

The former Derby Museums Service was made an independent trust around ten years ago. Derby Museums are the custodians and now administer, conserve, exhibit, and curate the collection of Derby City Council (DCC) the storage of the collections are currently held in four different locations around the city. Planning & Design Practice were thrilled to be invited to visit one of them.

Museums own and store many objects that were perhaps never meant for exhibition, but were acquired in order to preserve, for educational purposes for those who would study or write about them in the future. These collections are often vast and complex including things that need preserving very carefully to stop them from deteriorating. It is the responsibility of the collections managers to ensure that no harm comes to them from things such as infestation, damp and possible theft. It is a huge responsibility and a costly one. The buildings that house the collections are therefore equally important and should be of a high standard.

Recently museum collections in some parts of the UK have become incredibly high tech and one example is Leeds Discovery Centre where over one million objects are held in a state-of-the-art storage facility¹. This facility is fully accessible to the public and allows the cities collection to be shared with everyone. Derby Museums are also making great progress in sharing their collections too as can be seen by the RIBA award winning Museum of Making where everything is on display and accessible, with no dusty off-limits archive². But incredibly there are still many more objects held in the collections that the public cannot see.

The store we visited is quite small with a number of quite full rooms and has very narrow stairs so only eight of us were allowed to visit at a time. As we squeezed in Collections Manager Spencer Bailey explained that we should start at the top and work our way back down. So initially we had to climb four flights of narrow dusty stairs when we all reached the small landing at the top two doors either side led into small rooms on the one hand we found fossils dating back to prehistoric times when Derbyshire was under the sea and on the other was an intriguing room full of taxidermy birds of all descriptions but the one that stood out the most was the majestic Elvis the King Penguin.

As we descended the stairs, we visited many more rooms with racks full of diverse objects including butterflies and monkey skulls! Former offices full of files looked as they would have pre computer age they alone could be a display for the new generations to see. On the lower levels were racks of artworks all just waiting to be displayed again.

Clearly there is a need to update the management of the collection and we were very honoured to see these hidden objects and we are intrigued to see if there is some way that Derby Museums could amalgamate the four storage facilities into one manageable space along the lines of Leeds. After our visit we would certainly like to help them in that journey should the opportunity arise.

Ruth Gray, Heritage Consultant, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

1: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-discovery-centre/visit-leeds-discovery-centre/

2: https://www.ribaj.com/buildings/regional-awards-2023-east-midlands-bauman-lyons-architects-museum-making-derby-silk-mill-culture-entertainment-derby

Retrospective permission secures retaining wall

22nd March 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice are pleased to announce that retrospective planning permission has been secured for the erection of a gabion retaining wall in the Derbyshire Dales. The wall will strengthen an unstable sand bank that surrounds the property to the north west perimeter. The wall was initially built without planning permission and an enforcement notice was served to the applicant. Planning & Design then put together an application to ensure the wall would be lawful.

The sides of the quarry needed stabilising to prevent land outside the applicant’s ownership from slipping into the small sand quarry, where the dwelling was situated. The wall was retained within the curtilage of the dwelling and remained hidden from public view. It could not be seen from the highway due to an earth bank that forms part of the wider quarry walls.

The retaining wall consisted of gabion baskets that would support the old sand quarry walls, allowing water to drain through to the porous ground effectively. The development of the retaining wall represented a necessary engineering operation that would protect the dwelling from any potential risks that may occur due to the change in ground levels, that are to be expected from a quarry face.

Paragraph 184 of the NPPF states that when a site is at risk from land stability issues, it is the duty of the landowner to address these concerns. In order for the dwelling to not be at constant risk from the precarious nature of the steep incline, the retaining wall was required.

The resulting gabion retaining wall is neatly contained within the curtilage of the dwelling and cannot be seen from the surrounding area due to post and rail fencing running along the site boundary. The wall does not visually protrude into the wider landscape and does not impact negatively on the amenity of neighbours. This was an important factor as the dwelling was situated in close proximity to a Conservation Area.

Planning & Design Practice Ltd is a multi-disciplinary team of Charactered Town Planners, Architects, Architectural Assistants and Heritage Specialists. Gaining planning permission is a key step in almost any development. We can take a project through from inception to completion, but we also offer the flexibility to engage a client’s own architects and provide a planning service, whilst our design team can also work with clients who have engaged other town planning professionals.

Planning & Design Practice Ltd are well versed in researching and understanding local Council’s policies to ensure the best possible case if put forward for our clients.

For a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01332 347371 or enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Shaun Hyde, Planner, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

A picture of our past – W.W. Winter

21st February 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice were thrilled to be able to tour the W.W. Winter Ltd studios in January and see this incredible world unique premises that transports you back to the days when photography was in its infancy and the general public were able for the first time to have a reproduction of themselves previously only available by the hands of artists. Winter’s premises, built in 1867, include the oldest purpose-built photographic studio still in operation for its original purpose, built to a design by the Derby architect Henry Isaac Stevens.

W.W. Winter – a history

W.W. Winter Ltd is said to be the oldest extant photographic business in the UK, tracing its history back to its establishment in 1852. William Walter (or Walter William) Winter who was born at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk in 1842, son of Cornelius Jansen Walter Winter (1819-1891), a portrait and animal painter, and his wife Anna Self Shipston. Winter started off as an assistant to E.N. Charles at 2 Midland Road. When the latter died in March 1863, Winter married Charles’ widow Sarah and took over the business, this took place sometime after 1866.

W.W. Winter advertised himself in Wright’s 1874 Trade Directory as a photographic artist and dealer in works of art, with premises at Midland Road, Derby. In 1881, he had a studio at 22 & 24 Midland Road – and resided at 3 Midland Road – but had moved his premises to number 45 by 1887. By 1891, his wife Sarah had died, and in 1889 Walter married a second time, to Hannah Ness Ruddle.

He was an Alderman (member of council) retired in 1909 and sold the firm in the following year. The business continued to operate under the name W.W. Winter, and from at least 1912 had additional premises at 22 St. Peter’s Churchyard, Derby (Craven, 1993). Winter himself died in 1924.

In 2018 the company launched the W.W. Winter Heritage Trust, with the intention to advance the education of the public in the history of photography, in particular that relating to W. W. Winter Ltd., the city of Derby and the East Midlands. This is achieved through a series of public meetings and lectures; and to manage, care for, make accessible and develop the collection of images in the W. W. Winter archive.

Whilst some of the thousands of images have been archived and added to a database, many thousands more remain still to be rediscovered and part of the W. W. Winter Heritage Trust’s remit is to scan and record these old glass plate and film negatives.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is W-W-Winter-4-1024x647.jpg — W. W. Winter main entrance

W. W. Winter Ltd for 170 years have been photographing the people of Derby, and recording the changing face of the city. The company is an institution in the local community, holding extensive archives of photographic material and associated artifacts which chart the company’s history alongside the history of Derby. Planning & Design Practice wish to thank the volunteers and staff at W W. Winter for the incredibly insightful tour and highly recommend you visit this one of a kind premises that truly is a window into Derby’s past.

Planning & Design – Built heritage specialists

At Planning & Design Practice we recognise the importance of the built heritage in our towns, villages and rural areas. We have worked on numerous schemes affecting Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

Our Heritage Team is comprised of Director Jon Millhouse who specialises in heritage planning and is a Full Member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation together with our Architectural team leader Lindsay Cruddas, a registered Specialist Conservation Architect and our Heritage Consultants Ruth Gray recently completed a Masters in Public History and Heritage at the University of Derby.

Thinking of buying a listed building or a home in a Conservation Area? For a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your project or property, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 013332 347371 to find out how we can help.