Spatial Planning Development & Environment Bernard Weatherill House 8 Mint Walk Croydon CR0 1EA Please ask for/reply to Therese Finn Tel: 02084071385 [email protected] 21 January 2015 If you are a tenant of this property please ensure that the owner, your landlord or letting agent sees this letter or forward a copy of this letter to them. Alterations to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended) through the serving of an Article 4 Direction to the Chatsworth Road Conservation Area Dear owner or occupier, I am writing to inform you of proposed local changes to the planning regulations which will affect your permitted development rights. Permitted development rights derive from a general planning permission granted from Central Government and allow homeowners to make certain changes to their properties without the need to apply for planning permission from the local planning authority. Local planning authorities have powers under Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, as amended; to remove certain permitted development rights. An Article 4 Direction does not prevent the development to which it applies, but instead requires that planning permission is first obtained from the local planning authority for that development. The need to serve an Article 4 Direction to the Chatsworth Road Conservation Area was established through the production of the Chatsworth Road Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan Supplementary Planning Document that was adopted in April 2013. This document identified threats to the conservation area’s special character as a result of minor development, some of which can be carried out under permitted development rights. The proposed removal of permitted development rights include: The extension, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse All alterations to the roof of a dwellinghouse The construction of a porch outside any external door of a dwellinghouse The provision within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse of hard surfaces The erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure Construction of a means of access to a highway The painting of the exterior of any building or work The installation of solar PV or solar thermal equipment (solar panels) The changes to the above Order do not come into force immediately and there is an opportunity to make representations concerning the Article 4 Direction from 21 January to 9 March 2015. Comments can be made by email to [email protected] or by post to: Spatial Planning Service, 6th floor Zone B, Development & Environment, Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon, CR0 1EA. If deemed appropriate following this process the Article 4 Direction will come into force on 21 January 2016. The Article 4 Direction applies to the Chatsworth Road Conservation Area. A copy of the Direction, including a map defining the area covered can be viewed at the Council Offices at Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon, CR0 1EA and at the Croydon Central Library. Information about the opening hours of the Croydon Central Library can be viewed on the Council’s website at www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/libraries. Additional information regarding the Conservation Area Appraisal Management Plan can be viewed online on the Council’s website at www.croydon.gov.uk/chatsworth where there is also a link to information specific to the Article 4 Direction. If you have any questions or would like to receive further information relating to this Article 4, please contact the Spatial Planning Service (email: [email protected] or telephone: 02084071385). Yours faithfully, Tim Naylor Head of Spatial Planning Further Information: What is the notice of direction? Notice is given that the London Borough of Croydon made a direction under Article 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended) to withdraw the permitted development rights granted by: Development falling within Class A, C, D and F of Part 1 [Development within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse] of Schedule 2 to the said Order and not being development comprised within any other Class consisting of: ‘The enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse’ ‘Any other alteration to the roof of a dwellinghouse’ ‘The erection or construction of a porch outside any external door of a dwellinghouse’ ‘The provision within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse of a hard surface’ Development falling within Class A, B and C of Part 2 [minor operations] of Schedule 2 to the said Order and not being development comprised within any other Class consisting of: ‘The erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure’ ‘Construction of a means of access to a highway’ ‘The painting of the exterior of any building or work’ Development falling within Class A of Part 40 [Installation of domestic microgeneration equipment] of Schedule 2 to the said Order and not being development comprised within any other Class consisting of: ‘The installation, alteration or replacement of solar PV or solar thermal equipment’. What is changing? Development that was allowed within the Classes mentioned above under Schedule 2, Parts 1, 2 and 40 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended) will require planning permission. It does not mean that planning permission will not be granted for these types of development; but that each planning application will be considered on its individual merits. The Article 4 Direction withdraws the permitted development (listed above) from these properties at the addresses listed below. Householder permitted development rights do not apply to flats, maisonettes, mobile homes or residential caravans, and any works to the exterior of a flat or maisonette (changes to windows/doors etc.) or additions within the grounds require planning permission. All properties within the conservation area will have their permitted development rights removed with respect to ‘the erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure’. The remaining permitted development rights listed will only apply to dwellings. Will there be additional costs? There is no charge for planning applications submitted as a result of an Article 4 Direction. What are the reasons for the Article 4 Direction? To prevent the gradual and cumulative erosion of the special character of the Chatsworth Road Conservation Area, including: The loss of historic architectural features and introduction of new features and materials that detract from the area’s character The painting of brick elevations Poorly designed extensions Infilling of recessed porches The use of non-traditional roofing materials Poor siting of solar panels The loss of soft landscaping in front gardens The loss of low walling boundary treatments. These issues were identified in the production of the Chatsworth Road Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, which was consulted on in August and September 2012 and adopted in April 2013. This document made it clear that the Council would consider serving an Article 4 Direction if deemed appropriate to protect the special character of the conservation area. What properties are affected by this change? Barclay Road: 14-28 (even); Beech House Road: 2-26 (even), 7-19 (odd), Chatsworth Road: 1-57 (odd), 39A/B, 2-8 (even), 16-94 (even), Croydon Spiritualist Church, Chatsworth Hall, Holmlea Court, Garlands Court; Coombe Road: 37-47 (odd); 55-61 (odd); 12-38 (even); Eden Road: 1-29 (odd); 4-42 (even); Friends Road: 43-63 (odd); 46-58 (even), Mulgrave Road: 2A, 2-20 (even); 1A, 1-23 (odd); Park Lane: 73-91 (odd); and Woodstock Road: 1-31 (odd); 2-30 (even); and any land within the area outlined on the attached plan. When will the rules change? The Council is proposing that the Direction will come into effect on 21 January 2016. Where can I view the further supporting information? A copy of the Direction, including a map defining the area covered can be viewed at the Council Offices at Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon, CR0 1EA and at the Croydon Central Library. Information about the opening hours of the Croydon Central Library can be viewed on the Council’s website at www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/libraries. Additional information regarding the Conservation Area Appraisal Management Plan can be viewed online on the Council’s website at www.croydon.gov.uk/chatsworth where there is also a link to information specific to the Article 4 Direction. Can I comment on the proposed change? If you would like to comment on the proposed changes you have six weeks to do so from 21 January to 9 March 2015. Your comments may be submitted by post or email as stated in the attached letter. I have sent in comments. What will happen next? The Council will take into account all representations received during the six week period, and if deemed appropriate, will confirm the Direction which will come into effect on 21 January 2016. .