Local developer Wayne Low says that East Riding of Yorkshire Council have wasted public money as they looked to block his move to convert a building to a residential dwelling.
Mr. Low was speaking after he won an appeal logged with the council’s planning department that saw the developer also being awarded costs.
Mr. Low said;
“A planning application was made for the conversion of an existing Annex to a separate dwelling, the application was supported by professional reports that ERYC totally ignored and refused the application.”
“An appeal was made against this decision. During the appeal process, ERYC served an enforcement notice for a breach that had not occurred, total madness.”
Mr. Low says that the council felt the house in Molescroft had a small back garden and that it would be impacted by noise from a nearby car park, something that was dismissed by the appeal process.
Mr. Low feels that the council were too quick to issue an enforcement notice and should have waited for a decision from the appeal, he added;
“Local Authorities should only issue enforcement as a last resort, ERYC should have at least waited for the determination of the appeal.”
“ERYC served a further enforcement notice on another building that I own where no breach has occurred.”
“I was asked by ERYC to submit a planning application for change of use which I did. However they refused to register the application and instead served yet another unnecessary enforcement.”
Mr. Low says that he is not surprised there is shortage of housing in the East Riding given the way the current planning department at ERYC operate, he said;
“This is exactly why we have a shortage of housing. It is my view that the Local Authority has no regard for planning policy and determines planning applications like god.”
“The problem starts at senior officer level and even with Councillors themselves. It is systemic within the council.”
An East Riding of Yorkshire Council Spokesperson said;
“The council is disappointed that Mr. Low has not received the level of service he expected, however the council is satisfied that it has acted in a reasonable and proper manner throughout.”
