Category Archives: Uncategorized

We have gained planning permission for a new scheme student flat in Preston. The former Oakendale residential care home in Ashton which closed in August 2016 is ideally situated to be turned into flats for students attending the University of Central Lancashire. The demand is outstripping supply for student accommodation with private landlords always needed. This property provides a large communal house with ground floor accessible rooms, moving away from the typical high rise student accommodation springing up around the city.

Graham Lea Architecture is helping David Wilcock bring his successful market stall to the high street in Blackburn. Hoping to build on the popularity of Hugo Burrito on Blackburn Market David asked Graham Lea Architecture to draw up plans for his new restaurant. Have a look at the Lancashire Telegraph to check out more on this story

Lancashire Telegraph More than 25 jobs to come to 2 new restaurants

An article in last nights Lancashire Evening Post puts a vacant care home and home to renowned historian in the spotlight to become student flats. Mentioning the work done by the team here at Graham Lea Architecture within the planning report. Check out the article here at http://www.lep.co.uk/news/student-digs-plan-for-historian-s-preston-home-1-8845302

Following on from their decision over two years ago to stop the pre-application planning advice service Preston City Council have informed us that from 3rd April this year the service will be resumed.

This will allow anyone wishing to undertake minor developments to seek advice prior to applying for planning permission to ascertain beforehand whether their application is likely to be successful.

Minor developments cover such areas as:-

• extensions and alterations to a house;
• advertisements;
• telecommunications;
• agricultural development;
• extensions and alterations to listed buildings;
• 1-9 dwellings;
• developments of less than 1,000sqm floorspace or on sites of less than 1 hectare. For example retail, commercial, industrial, leisure, education, recreation and car parking.

A planning officer of the council will consider your proposal and, with advice from relevant consultees if necessary, provide you with an indication of whether your proposal is likely to receive planning permission.

The planning officer will also advise you if further information is required to support any future planning applications that you may submit.

This service is available from other councils but is set to make a welcome return to Preston next month.

If you would like any help in preparing a pre-application request for Preston or indeed any other council then please get in touch.

Further information can be found by visiting the Preston City Council website by following the link below.

http://www.preston.gov.uk/yourservices/planning/planning-applications/application-advice/minor-development-advice/

Due to our continuing growth, we are looking for talented people to provide architectural support at our Office in Preston, Lancashire. Duties would include the preparation of Planning and Building Regulations drawings for Residential and Commercial projects.

Ideally the suitable candidate should possess:

• A minimum of 3 years (5 years would be preferable) working in an Architectural role
• Be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and autonomously
• Be able to deal with timescales and work under pressure
• Have a good knowledge of UK Building Regulations
• Have a confident and professional manner when discussing projects with clients
• Be able to conduct site surveys
• Qualifications to degree level or equivalent

In return we would offer the chance for you to work in a professional environment as part of a new and expanding team with options available to work on either a flexible or part time basis.

The position would suit someone living local to the Preston area.

Hours and salary are negotiable.

Please attach your CV & portfolio to the application along with details of your experience and relevant references.

Planning Permission for Disabled Adaptation

When developing a property the first questions to ask are do the works need Planning Permission and are they likely to get Planning Permission. Although some alterations to domestic homes don’t require Planning Permission and can be done under Permitted Development, there are many alterations for disabled adaptation that do.

Should a development require Planning Permission then the first step is to assess if it is likely to get Planning Permission. There are many factors that can affect whether a planning application is likely to be approved most of these relate to the effect that the development will have on the surrounding area. In addition areas in greenbelt can be particularly trick to get planning permission, as councils have strict policies to restrict over development of the countryside.

Planning Applications for Disabled Adaptation
Every Council should have a Local plan which set out on what basis they are going to determine each Planning Application. Within each council’s Local plan they should aim to provide inclusive and mixed communities. This should address housing need for people with disabilities. In addition under the Equality Act councils have obligations to not discriminate. Many councils do have policies to give preference to works for disabilities.

When put into practice a Planning Application is more likely to be approved when it is for disabled adaptations. We have have seen Planning Applications approved where many have not. Planning Applications may include for the additional: Accommodation for Carers, Hydrotherapy Pools, Accessible Kitchens, Adapted Bathrooms, ground floor accommodation.

If you have a disability and require additional accommodation, or adaptation of your property. Why not give us a call and let one of our experts guide you through the process.

Due to our continuing growth, we are looking for talented people to provide architectural support at our Office in Preston, Lancashire on a flexible working basis. The ideal candidate will have worked in the architectural field for at least a year and be proficient in drafting complex and accurate drawings.  You will be confident in carrying out and drawing up accurate surveys for residential and commercial clients.  In return, we offer attractive rates of pay and a flexible working environment, along with the opportunity to work on some challenging and rewarding projects.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV, together with examples of your work, by email to graham@grahamlea.co.uk.

Proposed changes to the planning application process will encourage councils to compete with one another, and will also allow them to offer fast track application services.

We welcome changes in the planning system. In our experience the planning system is slower now than it was pre-email!

The new proposals, which have been put out to consultation today, will give applicants the choice of whether to submit their plans to the local council, a competing council or a government approved organisation to process.

Read more on the governments webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/implementation-of-planning-changes-technical-consultation

It’s been a great ending to a very good year with a record of 8 applications currently being considered by various planning departments.

We have just received a Certificate of Lawful Development confirming that our project fits within Permitted Development. This time it is for a porch and rear extension to a house in Blackpool.

A Certificate of Lawful Development is a document issued by the council confirming that the works are lawful and do not require planning permission.

The permitted Development rules allow you develop your property without some of the restrictions of planning permission and applies to both commercial and domestic properties.

Commercial permitted Development includes  among other things : the conversion of offices to dwellings, changes of use between certain use classes, and the change of use from agricultural barns to dwellings.

Householder Permitted Development includes the erection of porches, extensions and loft conversions. Details of what is allowable for domsetic households can be found at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/100806_PDforhouseholders_TechnicalGuidance.pdf

We have recently worked on the following Permitted Developments

Office – Dwelling Conversion

Barn – 3 dwelling Conversion

House Holder Loft conversion

House Holder Porch Extension

House Holder Side Extension

House Holder Rear Extension

House Holder Rear 6m Extension (Larger extension)

If you want advise on a project which is Permitted Development, call us for a free consultation.