A full planning permission submission was made to confirm that a permission from around 10 years ago was lawfully implemented for office and production facilities and the use of land for B1, B2 and B8. Evidence was obtained from structural engineers as well as building control officers and consultants. Finally, a barristers opinion was also sought on the matter to add more weight to the legal arguments, which were advanced.

The submission meant that the client avoided the requirement for a fresh planning permission to be applied for along with any attendant changes in standards, guidance and policy, notably around biodiversity net gain. The submission relied on a firm understanding of established case law as well as very recent high court judgments in the same Authority. 

Two months later, the Local Authority concurred with our interpretation and the lawful development certificate was granted. 

Accordingly, the historic application is now lawfully extant and will be more fully implemented later this year with the development coming onto the market in 2025.

This means that the site will provide a high tech data centre, boosting jobs and economic gains in the area. The client was delighted with the outcome.