When Planning lets us Down (Bournemouth Liberal Democrats)

Bournemouth Liberal Democrats <contact.us@bournemouth-libdems.org.uk>

When Planning lets us Down

January 11, 2013 7:43 PM
By Carol Ainge

Cllr Carol Ainge

For over three years I have been fighting a planning application at 222 Malmesbury Park Road.

I was contacted by many of the residents who were very concerned that a planning application had been put into the planning department by a language school to erect a block of student flats for approx 38 foreign students.

The residents approached me as I started the stop campaign many years age (Stop. The. Over. Planning.)

We have fought this application every step of the way until the last time when it went before the planning board.

We found out that the plans that we had were passed by the planning board were not the plans that building control were working from!!!!

When we found this out it was understandable that we asked how this could happen?

I have now had 3 meetings at the town hall and at the last meeting I took Mr. Bernardi, who has worked alongside me throughout this long and very upsetting process.

So now I can tell you that when the planning board sit to decide whether to pass any set of plans, such as 222 Malmesbury Park Road, they were shown both the interior and exterior of the building on which to make their decision.

On this occasion they passed the application.

We now know that the agents then took the plans and changed the interior totally.

We were told that this happens frequently and there is not much that can be done about it.

222 Malmesbury Park Road Plans (Granted 11/02/2011)

If the premises are inspected by building control and planning enforcement and they decide that it looks ok and would not warrant taking any action then it is let through.

So I ask these questions:

Why are the interiors and exteriors shown to the planning board in the first place when the developers can change anything inside how they deem fit, after the planning board has passed the original plans.
Why were the changed plans not spotted by building control and reported to the planning department, as they are both in the same office.

As I have stated this appears to have been happening for a long time, i have requested that the plans which are passed by the planning board are now checked against the plans handed in by the agents of developers to make sure that they are all working from the same plans. i have been told that this will be done but because of the large amount of plans there will be no guarantee that this won't happen again.

I would also say that I asked for the enforcement team to look at the interior of the building because I had a feeling early on that all the dining, seating, and kitchen area's had been removed.

I asked for a stop notice to be applied but was told that they would not do this until the interior was completed and then they could see exactly what was wrong!!!! This to my way of thinking, this is so wrong in so many ways.

So now we all know that what is put before the planning board is not necessarily what will be built!!!! As the developers, if they so desire, seem do just what they like.

I will carry on fighting, but I believe that everyone should look very carefully at what is being done on any planning application and, at every stage.

Councillor Carol Ainge

Planning Applications: 222 Malmesbury Park Road - Bournemouth Borough Council Website