Eric Pickles' mobility scooter shed row

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

Communities secretary Eric Pickles has waded into a planning row after a man wanting to erect a shed for his mobility scooter was charged £75 for planning advice.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Gordon Henderson - Conservative MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey - said he believed it was wrong for the local planning authority to charge for planning adivce.

Mr Henderson said: "One of my constituents recently asked our local planning department whether he needed planning permission to erect a shed for his mobility scooter. The planning officers refused to answer his question and insisted that he had to submit a form and pay a £75 fee to determine whether the shed was covered by permitted development rights, which it was. Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is wrong for local authorities to charge for simply clarifying planning rules?"

Mr Pickles simply replied: "Yes. The man should get his money back."

Permitted development rights were first introduced in 1995 to allow certain types of development to proceed without the need for a planning application, since planning permission for them is "deemed" to be granted.

However, issues over the interpretation of the rules led to councils issuing Lawful Development Certificates. These are not the same as planning permission but offer proof that household building work is lawful.