Single New Dwellings / Annexes

Planning Success Stories: 72-76 High Street, Staple Hill, Bristol

In August 2023, Vision Planning obtained a certificate of lawfulness for a client who had been using part of a shop as a residential flat.

Where the use of a building has changed to a new dwelling without planning permission, and this use has continued for at least 4 years, the breach of planning rules becomes lawful. (But please note that this is about to change to ten years.)

We worked with the applicant to gather sufficient evidence to convince the Council that the breach had occurred more than 4 years ago and had continued since, and we set this out in the application.

The Council agreed that the breach was now lawful, and issued the certificate of lawfulness.