Kitchen Garden Forum

We self-manage our allotments. We need to improve the fencing to try to deter the local vandals and arsonists and are hoping to put up a 1.8 m steel palisade fence. Because this is adjacent to the highway we need planning permission. I have filled in the form but have been told I need to submit a Design and Access Statement and a Planning Statement (setting out the context and justificaton for the development in relation to national, regional and local policy). Is there anyone who works/used to work in Planning who knows how to do this?

Thank you.

Have you checked out the Planning Department section of your local authority website. They may have some information on there, and possibly a draft specimen template for guidance.

I have found "guidance" (but alas, no template) and clicked on links leading to other links. It all seems to be aimed at the professional. I feel a bit like I did at school, when I sat on the back row in Latin wondering what it was all about.

Binky, ring your Planning Authority and ask for an appointment with a Planning Officer to discuss an application prior to submitting it.

They should give you advice and guidance free of charge.

Planning Authority varies according to where you are in the UK, but is normally the District Council.

Peter - thank you for your suggestion. I had three appointments with representatives of our local planning department. Each time a new set of hoops was presented for me to jump through. Each time I smiled nicely and did as they requested. Finally, planning officer No 3 told me I had everything I needed -so I submitted my planning application. A week later I received a letter, from the same planning office, rejecting my application as I had not submitted a Design and Access Statement and a Planning Statement! I have now found some help - the husband of one of our plotholders has a friend who used to do the planning applications for his company (a large multinational). But even he thinks the requirements are a bit excessive for 40m of fence.