A
Nottinghamshire
landlord has hit out at a council over a lack of “common sense” after it blocked his plans to convert a derelict building. Peter Downing has restored a collection of
abandoned properties
in Tuxford, converting them into homes and renting them out.
However, the 83-year-old has hit a stumbling block with his final project – a derelict workshop in Chantry Walk which he purchased back in 2020.
In the the five years since, Mr Downing has had several planning applications to convert the building into flats turned down by Bassetlaw District Council (BDC).
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Reasons for the rejections include concerns over extra bins leading to traffic problems, and a lack of information over the history of the building.
The council said it would consider future proposals, however Mr Downing said the situation is becoming increasingly hopeless.
He said he had been advised by the council in a pre-planning application that he would likely be supported. He has spent a total of £15,000 on the subsequent purchases and planning applications.
“I regard the decision as being perverse. It’s a derelict building in the middle of Tuxford,” Mr Downing, who moved to the area in 1997, said. “We’ve now got a derelict building with no hope of doing anything with it. It sets a precedent for other derelict buildings in Tuxford.
“What do we do, I don’t know. We’re totally stuck. It’s a total scandal.”
Mr Downing has been restoring and converting buildings, including an old cottage, stable and warehouse, since moving to Tuxford. “I just want to finish it off. Anyone with a tenth of a per cent of common sense would welcome it,” he said.
“I just want to finish the site and provide accommodation for people.” A spokesperson for Bassetlaw District Council said: “Since 2019, we have provided Mr Downing with pre-application planning advice and guidance in relation to this building, in addition to considering and determining full planning applications.
“Where these applications have been refused, this was due to a number of reasons including the application not meeting the necessary planning policy requirements, as well as raising concerns over the lack of private amenity space and an unacceptable risk to highway safety. Mr Downing’s agent has also put forward two planning applications to establish if the proposal met with Permitted Development rights.
“However, officers advised Mr Downing’s agent on each occasion that the proposal does not fall within the parameters of permitted development, and so were lawfully refused. BDC will consider all planning applications in line with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as Amended), the adopted Local Plan for Bassetlaw, Neighbourhood Plans (where relevant) and the National Planning Policy Framework, in addition to other material planning considerations.”
