Planning

Attempts by developers for inappropriate development in the area were the main reason leading to the creation of the Residents' Association. Residents, by acting togther, have had some success in preventing inappropriate developments taking place, despite a planning system that is heavily weighted towards developers and against local residents.

The Residents' Association has no objection to appropriate developments taking place. Indeed the majority of houses have been extended over the years. Many residents have gone to significant lengths in designing recent extensions to ensure that they take account of the characteristic look and feel of the area. Future developments should be performed in such a way that they maintain or enhance the area.

The Residents' Association is notified of all planning applications made in the area and will make comments on those that do not meet the planning Design Guide. PPRA's primary concern is the general character of the area.

The MBC Planning Design Guide

All applications for planning permission in the Pownall Park area must meet Macclesfield Borough Council's Design Guide for Pownall Park

The MBC Design Guide gives specific criteria against which planning decisions are made.

As well as guidance on building design it also includes requirements for the general ambiance of the area, such as treatment of front boundaries. It is hoped that residents will take account of these even when work carried out does not require planning permission.

The design guide is available on the Macclesfield Council Website at Design Guide

Making an Application

One of the quickest ways of destroying any relationship with your neighbours is for them to receive a letter out of the blue from Macclesfield Borough Council saying that you have put in plans that will have a massive impact.

We strongly encourage people making planning applications to:

·        Explain to their neighbours what they are intending to do. Ideally to discuss options and take account of neighbours' concerns.

·        Have a face to face meeting with the planning department to discuss what you are applying for. Putting in plans for something that the planner says will clearly not be accepted is a waste of your time, as well as potentially distressing for your neighbours.

There seems to be an attitude by some Architects / Designers that submitting plans for a massive overdevelopment, then scaling it back in further applications, is the best way of maximising how much one can extend. However all it is likely to acheive is to annoy neighbours and ensure that your application is very closely scrutinised. The only real beneficiary is the Architect / Designer who can charge you for more work.

Another factor is that Architects / Designers who are not familiar with MBC may assume that more development may be acceptable than is the case. For example, in areas such as Greater Manchester, the city environment means that more impact on neighbours is generally accepted.

In addition to strictly planning matters neighbours are likely to be concerned about the impact during building works. Discussion, explanation and even small compromises, can relieve many of their concerns.

It is particulary useful to mark out the extent of any extension on the ground so that it is clear what you are doing, for your own benefit as well as neighbours.

Objecting

Objecting to a planning application

Hopefully you will be aware in advance of the planning application, what is intended and will have had chance to discuss any concerns with your neighbour. However whilst this is the case in probably 80% of cases, sometimes your first inkling will be a letter from MBC.

In many cases only immediate neighbours are notified. You may wish to inform a wider audience of the plans and ask them to object. In cases where there could be a major precedent for Pownall Park as a whole you may reasonably decide to inform everyone in the area. There is a good history of support within Pownall Park, however you do need to be realistic. Weight of public opinion is not seen as a reason for rejection. It can however ensure that an application is closely examined by the planners and councilors.

Contact with the local councilors can also ensure that the plans are examined carefully, and can give you additional information on progress of the application which is otherwise difficult to obtain.

There is no gain in objecting way before the end date, think carefully and make sure you include all of your concerns in the letter.

It is much better to be specific and also say what you believe would be reasonable. For example "It goes back by 3m, in our view 2m would be acceptable because ..." is likely to be more productive than its "too big".

Do not try and pre-judge what is a planning matter, if it's not it will be ignored by the planning department so if in any doubt include your concerns. Note that conditions can be applied to any planning permission so consider for example hours of work, retention/re-inforcement of shared fences etc.

Whilst PPRA will send in objections where applications do not meet the MBC Planning Guide it is essentially up to adjacent neighbours to co-ordinate any objections to applications on surrounding properties where the application affects a single property.

Attempts by developers for inappropriate development in the area were the main reason leading to the creation of the Residents' Association. Residents, by acting togther, have had some success in preventing inappropriate developments taking place, despite a planning system that is heavily weighted towards developers and against local residents.

The Residents' Association has no objection to appropriate developments taking place. Indeed the majority of houses have been extended over the years. Many residents have gone to significant lengths in designing recent extensions to ensure that they take account of the characteristic look and feel of the area. Future developments should be performed in such a way that they maintain or enhance the area.

The Residents' Association is notified of all planning applications made in the area and will make comments on those that do not meet the planning Design Guide. PPRA's primary concern is the general character of the area.

The MBC Planning Design Guide

All applications for planning permission in the Pownall Park area must meet Macclesfield Borough Council's Design Guide for Pownall Park

The MBC Design Guide gives specific criteria against which planning decisions are made.

As well as guidance on building design it also includes requirements for the general ambiance of the area, such as treatment of front boundaries. It is hoped that residents will take account of these even when work carried out does not require planning permission.

The design guide is available on the Macclesfield Council Website at Design Guide

Making an Application

One of the quickest ways of destroying any relationship with your neighbours is for them to receive a letter out of the blue from Macclesfield Borough Council saying that you have put in plans that will have a massive impact.

We strongly encourage people making planning applications to:

·        Explain to their neighbours what they are intending to do. Ideally to discuss options and take account of neighbours' concerns.

·        Have a face to face meeting with the planning department to discuss what you are applying for. Putting in plans for something that the planner says will clearly not be accepted is a waste of your time, as well as potentially distressing for your neighbours.

There seems to be an attitude by some Architects / Designers that submitting plans for a massive overdevelopment, then scaling it back in further applications, is the best way of maximising how much one can extend. However all it is likely to acheive is to annoy neighbours and ensure that your application is very closely scrutinised. The only real beneficiary is the Architect / Designer who can charge you for more work.

Another factor is that Architects / Designers who are not familiar with MBC may assume that more development may be acceptable than is the case. For example, in areas such as Greater Manchester, the city environment means that more impact on neighbours is generally accepted.

In addition to strictly planning matters neighbours are likely to be concerned about the impact during building works. Discussion, explanation and even small compromises, can relieve many of their concerns.

It is particulary useful to mark out the extent of any extension on the ground so that it is clear what you are doing, for your own benefit as well as neighbours.

Objecting

Objecting to a planning application

Hopefully you will be aware in advance of the planning application, what is intended and will have had chance to discuss any concerns with your neighbour. However whilst this is the case in probably 80% of cases, sometimes your first inkling will be a letter from MBC.

In many cases only immediate neighbours are notified. You may wish to inform a wider audience of the plans and ask them to object. In cases where there could be a major precedent for Pownall Park as a whole you may reasonably decide to inform everyone in the area. There is a good history of support within Pownall Park, however you do need to be realistic. Weight of public opinion is not seen as a reason for rejection. It can however ensure that an application is closely examined by the planners and councilors.

Contact with the local councilors can also ensure that the plans are examined carefully, and can give you additional information on progress of the application which is otherwise difficult to obtain.

There is no gain in objecting way before the end date, think carefully and make sure you include all of your concerns in the letter.

It is much better to be specific and also say what you believe would be reasonable. For example "It goes back by 3m, in our view 2m would be acceptable because ..." is likely to be more productive than its "too big".

Do not try and pre-judge what is a planning matter, if it's not it will be ignored by the planning department so if in any doubt include your concerns. Note that conditions can be applied to any planning permission so consider for example hours of work, retention/re-inforcement of shared fences etc.

Whilst PPRA will send in objections where applications do not meet the MBC Planning Guide it is essentially up to adjacent neighbours to co-ordinate any objections to applications on surrounding properties where the application affects a single property.