Recommendation for REFUSAL overturned by Planning Committee
Yes, you read that right, a Planning Committee GRANTED planning permission against a recommendation for refusal. And yes, that really isn’t something you read every day.
So, how did we do it?
The methodology is actually quite simple and follows a few steps:
Identify the issue(s) and assess it and address it
Identify the key people to talk to in the hierarchy of the LPA
Formulate the benefits in a positive message – FREE FROM TECHNICAL JARGON!
Get that positive message out there first before the NIMBYs
Engage with the neighbours in a meaningful way (no, telling them you are great is not meaningful)
Build a network of third-party activists who will support you
Make sure those supporters actually make their voice heard
Make sure the Planning Committee is briefed by you AND your supporters
Carefully plan your appearance at the Planning Committee
The truth is sometimes you need a sledgehammer to crack a nut… and that means that you have to talk to senior people at the Council…and yes, that includes the Chief Exec and Directors.
Key to this is that if you need to understand the local community needs and concerns. You must respond to their needs and concerns in a way that they can see will make a tangible positive change to their lives.
You can only do this by getting your message out to them before the NIMBYs get out there and set a negative message. If you think that saying nothing will prevent the NIMBYs from waking up, you are in for a rude awakening. They will wake up and sent a negative agenda and then you are screwed.
Identify key people that can be influential and help you get wider support. These are community organisations, and even the Residents Association – you win them over, you win your permission essentially.
Now comes the complicated bit…
So, you have done all of this and people actually like you and your plans (for a change). The risk is that they don’t tell the Council and the Councillors that they support you. And let’s be honest, you, your planning consultant, me, we all can stand up at the planning committee and tell them your application is great but it carries limited weight. We are paid to say it – so of course we’ll say it.
What you need is for ordinary people to say it. IT CARRIES A LOT MORE WEIGHT when their voters support it.
Then comes the Planning Committee. You ranting at the Committee about how unfair life is for 3 minutes is not going to get you anywhere. You need to communicate the facts before the committee. Then get your third party residents to tell their Councillors to vote for the application (or you at the very least need to use your short time to tell the committee about the support and evidence it).
That is how you overturn a recommendation for refusal!
So, don’t just sit there feeling sorry for yourself, CALL ME!
Henry
07736121014