Issue - meetings

Report HPR2021/006

Members considered the making of an Article 4 Direction to remove Part 1, Class B and C Permitted Development (PD) rights in the Petts Wood Area of Special Residential Character (ASRC). The PD rights allowed various alterations to the roof of a dwellinghouse without planning permission.

The Head of Planning Policy and Strategy confirmed that the existing Article 4 Direction which removed PD rights on front roofslopes would only be removed once the new Direction was in place.

Councillor Fawthrop stated that the intention of the Article 4 Direction was so that the garden suburb aspect (views through to the gardens) and the openness and feel of the ASRC (a considerable amount of which will soon become a Conservation Area), was protected. He therefore requested that the Direction also include the residential Conservation Areas to ensure the openness and feel of the area and to maintain a consistent pattern in regard to roof lights. It was expected that this would not apply to Station Square in the same way as it would apply to Chislehurst Road and the Chenies.

Councillor Owen emphasised that the wording in all Article 4 Directions should explain its purpose in a clear and precise manner.

Councillor Joel suggested that sketches of what would be acceptable should be included and made available to applicants/developers etc.

RESOLVED that:-

1)  the making of a ‘non-immediate’ Article 4 Direction (covering the Petts Wood ASRC and the residential Conservation Areas shown on the plan) to withdraw Part 1, Class B and C permitted development rights granted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (“the GPDO”), Schedule 2 be endorsed;

2)  pending agreement to ‘make’ the Article 4 Direction, the Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing would be requested to authorise the making of a non-immediate Direction which would come into force 12 months from the day on which it was made, if the Direction was subsequently confirmed following public representations as required by the GPDO (where practicable); and

3)  any such decision to confirm a non-immediate Direction would be accompanied by a concurrent decision to cancel the existing Article 4 Direction which related solely to the removal of Part 1, Class B and C permitted development rights on front roofslopes.

It was FURTHER RESOLVED that:-

4)  the existing Article 4 Direction which removed PD rights on front roofslopes, remain in force until it is replaced by the new Direction.