Chiswick
Councillors get tough on unlawful development Almost 50% of Chiswick is covered by Conservation Area Status, which means there are tougher planning restrictions in place, and the restrictions are often toughened further by the presence of Article 4 Directions, which remove many ‘permitted development rights’ that would normally allow householders to make changes to their properties without requiring planning permission.
The Planners and Committee Councillors take a very dim of those who try to circumvent the system and are quite prepared to beginning enforcement proceedings to ensure that the rules are followed. It’s very important that Chiswick residents who live in a Conservation Area are aware of the planning restrictions on their home, because it can become expensive and time-consuming once enforcement actions begins.” Although it is not a criminal offence to carry out development without the benefit of planning permission, the Planning Enforcement Team will investigate any such allegations and if substantiated ask the owner/occupier to either remedy or regularise the breach of planning control. If nothing is done, and the unauthorised development remains in place, formal enforcement action may be taken against the unauthorised development. January 16, 2003 |