S@dding planners; why do they make life so blimmin difficult (rant warning)

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

We have the misfortune to live in a Grade 2 listed pile for our sins and I'm submitting a planning application for our shed/barn to have some internal work on the roof joists. We;re not changing the appearance of it, OR doing anything drastic, in fact no-one passing in the road will see it or know there's any difference, BUT we have to submit a whole lot of complicated stuff.

I submitted some plans which the builder drew - oh no that's not good enough for them; plus some photo's of the outside and interior, and that's not good enough either, oh no they have to make life so bl@@dy complicated coz now they want a "Design and Access Statement", plus a "Justification Statement" (i.e. WHY do you want to do the work? - coz the flippin place is gonna fall down if we don't!!!).

Plus they want a detailed plan of the area which has to be downloaded at the correct scale, and for this you pay £17.99!!!

Its all a rip off; and I know cases where people have gone and rubbed palms with cash and got the most horrendous looking houses built and its all OK! If anyone doubts that the way it works then come and look at the monstrosity that got built next door to us I say.

I was under the impression the common man could submit plans and it would be relatively uncomplicated. Silly me, coz obviously you have to pay a great deal of money for costly surveyors, agents, etc.

And we only want to put some timbers up in an old shed that frankly would be far better knocked down!!! That's all.

Hey, anybody got a bulldozer you'd like to "have an accident" with around here?

Any planners out there who can explain to me what I need to do? I just can't deal with this, I'm not an expert on paperwork and drawing to scale, and stuff like that.

The stuff on the website that the council have suggested to write this "statement" is absolutely daft, i.e. we have to "justify" the application re. stuff like "sensitivities to minority ethnic communities" etc etc. Oh for crying out loud, who the hell let this country get to this??? In wildest Devon? What a lot of ****.

Sorry, I warned it was a rant. I'm very unhappy, I've now got to go and find someone (at great expense) to submit a piddling little listed building consent when common sense would dictate a more reasoned approach.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

planning consultants are worth the money! and take the hassle out of it as they know the system. If you are determined to do this you can book an appointment with your local planning dept to help you with the req info. Another tip is to go online and look at other similar applications in your area and read their design and access statement and justification statement and energy statements and copy some of the text to make it fit your case. i recommend once you have the original documents/photos that you take them to a copying shop as you usually have to submit original plus 3 copies (takes all day to do on a computer printer!!!) and its always worth talking to your local council ward member and parish council and get them on side to support you prior to application. Good luck, and remember logical thought is not a requirement to be a planning officer at the council! even the simplest application becomes a huge mountain to climb, i have spent the last 20 months doing applications (now finally got the right result!) but for the house application i used a planning consultant. talk to a few and get them to give you a price you might be pleasantly surprised.