With regard to planning application 0/51268 Oak House Groes Lwyd Abergele LL22 7SU
Please note this is a resubmission in relation to refused permission on application 0/50219
We note that Ian Gibbons has been assigned as the officer dealing with the new application, Ian Gibbons was the officer who dealt with the original application.
I would like to formally request a different planning officer be allocated to the new application on the following grounds:
1) On the original application the planning officer did not respond until a few days before the decision date saying he would reject the application there and then unless we agreed to the Affordable Housing contribution. He stated he would not grant an extension for any other purpose, including giving us time to get professional valuations done to justify us not paying the contribution. We feel this was unprofessional behaviour.
2) As well as the rejection relating to affordable housing, the application was rejected on an issue that could have been resolved with a simple drawing change had it been brought to our attention prior to the rejection.
3) We feel the communication from the planning officer to our agents, Edge Architects, was very poor, and we feel he was not prepared to work with our agent to reach a positive outcome to our application.
At the same time as application 0/50219 was being considered by your department, we had a similar application being considered by Denbighshire CC Planning Department (Change of use from offices to residential). The Denbighshire application was successful, despite some issues that had to be addressed, because the planning officer dealing with that case worked with us to achieve a positive outcome. The Denbighshire project is now well underway and by spring 2024 will provide three much needed dwellings in the Ruthin area.
We have no confidence Ian Gibbons will work with us and Edge Architects to reach a positive outcome to our current application. Please be aware that Oak House has been subject to vandalism and arson attacks (the latest one being at the beginning of November) and its condition is deteriorating as time goes by. The building is an attractive 1850’s building located in a conservation area and as such the redevelopment of the site will be subject to extra expense. The viability of the redevelopment is already in question. If planning permission can not be agreed soon I feel the property could deteriorate to such an extent we would be unable to save it.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.