Relaxed rules on home extensions slammed by East Lancashire politicians

4:31pm Friday 7th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Bill Jacobs, Local government reporter

NEW GOVERNMENT proposals to ease planning rules on home extensions have been condemned by East Lancashire council chiefs of all parties.

Pendle Liberal Democrat Tony Greaves said the idea was “unbelievable stupidity” while Tory planning spokesman on Blackburn with Darwen council Alan Cottam predicted a rash of legal disputes.

Alyson Barnes, Labour leader of Rossendale, said: “This is not going to kick-start the economy, it is just going to cause a lot of neighbour disputes.” Ribble Valley Conservative deputy leader Stuart Hirst said: “We would be concerned about unregulated development because of its effect on the environment of the borough.”

The government last night announced consultations on allowing homeowners, for three years, to build larger extensions on houses — up to 8m long for detached properties and six for others.

Rules on shop and office expansion and affordable housing in new developments will be relaxed and it will be easier to install conservatories and loft extensions.

Blackburn with Darwen council planning chairman Jim Smith said: “This a recipe for neighbour disputes. The present system allows for compromise. Extensions are the biggest cause of objections and disputes across the borough.” Coun Cottam said: “We’ll just see more people using civil legal cases to object to extensions.”

Coun Greaves said: “This is unbelievable stupidity. It will cause massive problems in the cramped terraced streets of East Lancashire.”

Hynburn borough planning chairman Bernard Dawson said: “I don’t think it will make much difference but it will worsen neighbour disputes.”

Comments (10)

4:41pm Fri 7 Sep 12

lwg76 says...

I note that all those with their Snouts deepest in the Planning Trough are against freedom.

It's about time the Little Hitlers employed by the Council were culled rather than those who provide a real service to the Public (Like meals on wheels and care for the elderly etc.) as has previously been the case.

Building Control will remain though.
I note that all those with their Snouts deepest in the Planning Trough are against freedom. It's about time the Little Hitlers employed by the Council were culled rather than those who provide a real service to the Public (Like meals on wheels and care for the elderly etc.) as has previously been the case. Building Control will remain though. lwg76

5:24pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Noiticer says...

The councillors are absolutely correct in condeming the Government's policy shift as it will lead to a rash of unsightly extensions and just add to the increasing ugliness of our urban areas.However, put alongside the encouragement of wind turbines on our uplands this decision is small meat. Just look at the huge turbines appearing above Oswaldtwistle and you can see the results.
The councillors are absolutely correct in condeming the Government's policy shift as it will lead to a rash of unsightly extensions and just add to the increasing ugliness of our urban areas.However, put alongside the encouragement of wind turbines on our uplands this decision is small meat. Just look at the huge turbines appearing above Oswaldtwistle and you can see the results. Noiticer

5:27pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Pan-cake says...

What an incredibily stupid comment. Obviously lwg76 is a bit of a dummy.
Meals on wheels and care for the elderly are provided bŷ county council or charities.
Planning and building control is done by district councils.
It is grossly offensive to call council officers 'little hitlers'.
The officers can only operate within the planning laws.
If you don't like it speak to your councillor or MP and get the laws changed.
What an incredibily stupid comment. Obviously lwg76 is a bit of a dummy. Meals on wheels and care for the elderly are provided bŷ county council or charities. Planning and building control is done by district councils. It is grossly offensive to call council officers 'little hitlers'. The officers can only operate within the planning laws. If you don't like it speak to your councillor or MP and get the laws changed. Pan-cake

6:55pm Fri 7 Sep 12

GIBUCK says...

OMG........Cant wait to see that delightful scenic view of hundreds of minarets throughout East Lancs dominating the sky line even more than they do now. But since when have planning regulations stopped them going up anyway............? Does this mean that you can just build an extension when you want to without approaching anyone apart from Building Control ???????
OMG........Cant wait to see that delightful scenic view of hundreds of minarets throughout East Lancs dominating the sky line even more than they do now. But since when have planning regulations stopped them going up anyway............? Does this mean that you can just build an extension when you want to without approaching anyone apart from Building Control ??????? GIBUCK

7:16pm Fri 7 Sep 12

mavrick says...

It just shows that the Tories are only interested in money.
It just shows that the Tories are only interested in money. mavrick

9:02pm Fri 7 Sep 12

jack daniels says...

lwg76 wrote:
I note that all those with their Snouts deepest in the Planning Trough are against freedom.

It's about time the Little Hitlers employed by the Council were culled rather than those who provide a real service to the Public (Like meals on wheels and care for the elderly etc.) as has previously been the case.

Building Control will remain though.
another example of the stupidity at number 10.

What are the odds they'll do another U turn by the end of the year?
[quote][p][bold]lwg76[/bold] wrote: I note that all those with their Snouts deepest in the Planning Trough are against freedom. It's about time the Little Hitlers employed by the Council were culled rather than those who provide a real service to the Public (Like meals on wheels and care for the elderly etc.) as has previously been the case. Building Control will remain though.[/p][/quote]another example of the stupidity at number 10. What are the odds they'll do another U turn by the end of the year? jack daniels

11:46pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Marsdogs says...

I thought these proposals were bad until I read Lord Tony Greaves doesn't approve of them.
I thought these proposals were bad until I read Lord Tony Greaves doesn't approve of them. Marsdogs

11:46pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Marsdogs says...

I thought these proposals were bad until I read Lord Tony Greaves doesn't approve of them.
I thought these proposals were bad until I read Lord Tony Greaves doesn't approve of them. Marsdogs

2:14pm Sat 8 Sep 12

sean_brfc says...

Noiticer wrote:
The councillors are absolutely correct in condeming the Government's policy shift as it will lead to a rash of unsightly extensions and just add to the increasing ugliness of our urban areas.However, put alongside the encouragement of wind turbines on our uplands this decision is small meat. Just look at the huge turbines appearing above Oswaldtwistle and you can see the results.
From my garden in Hoddlesden the turbines look great.
[quote][p][bold]Noiticer[/bold] wrote: The councillors are absolutely correct in condeming the Government's policy shift as it will lead to a rash of unsightly extensions and just add to the increasing ugliness of our urban areas.However, put alongside the encouragement of wind turbines on our uplands this decision is small meat. Just look at the huge turbines appearing above Oswaldtwistle and you can see the results.[/p][/quote]From my garden in Hoddlesden the turbines look great. sean_brfc

5:35pm Sat 8 Sep 12

Kevin, Colne says...

It depends on which side of the fence you’re on, whether a householder undertaking an extension or a neighbour now stripped of any right of comment.

At a wider level the proposal illustrates the extent to which Prime Minister Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Clegg are bereft of policy ideas of any significance to address our current travails.

I think that what this policy amounts to in many cases will be the bringing of schemes from the near future into the present; but eventually you run out future from which to rob for the present.

In any case those with money readily available may well have undertaken extensions, while in the depressed regions those wishing to extend may not have the money nor be able to access funding for such an endeavour.

Mr Clegg’s assertion that this would assist the process of securing economic recovery and the problem of high youth unemployment sounded to me like someone who had suffered a momentary loss of connection between his brain and his mouth; and if he does really believe this then we’re in very deep trouble.
It depends on which side of the fence you’re on, whether a householder undertaking an extension or a neighbour now stripped of any right of comment. At a wider level the proposal illustrates the extent to which Prime Minister Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Clegg are bereft of policy ideas of any significance to address our current travails. I think that what this policy amounts to in many cases will be the bringing of schemes from the near future into the present; but eventually you run out future from which to rob for the present. In any case those with money readily available may well have undertaken extensions, while in the depressed regions those wishing to extend may not have the money nor be able to access funding for such an endeavour. Mr Clegg’s assertion that this would assist the process of securing economic recovery and the problem of high youth unemployment sounded to me like someone who had suffered a momentary loss of connection between his brain and his mouth; and if he does really believe this then we’re in very deep trouble. Kevin, Colne

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