Ground condition - The issue

Comment

Representation ID: 2611

Received: 27/04/2012

When accepting a planning proposal the case officer should be able to judge by the drawings/evidence whether a site is on an area of unstable land or has a previous history of instability or flooding, but that rarely happens. The geotechnical experts evidence is accepted without question, when even to the lay man it appears inadequate. Statements such as it is obviously stable as the trees are not leaning over, or by building it upon a retaining wall it will increase the stability when the evidence is a drawing of a wall that was never built are accepted.

Object

Representation ID: 2613

Received: 27/04/2012

There seems to be a culture whereby applications that are unstable land, or have land drainage issues are approved with 'suitably worded conditions' because of the loss of the Hawthorn Road appeal. The refusal of the Fern Road application was not defended by the council as they could have landed themselves with a hefty bill because of the loss of Hawthorn Road. A recent application for Hawthorn Road was not refused, even though there was a lack of geotechnical evidence, because of the loss of the Fern Road appeal. The sites, although miles apart are forever linked.

Comment

Representation ID: 3376

Received: 27/04/2012

Pollution and Land Instability NPPF 120 & 121
Adequate site information should be prepared by a competent person. THE INFORMATION SHOULD BE CHECKED AS TO ITS VIABILITY by a professional and competent person. Site mitigation information includes a risk assessment of land potentially affected by contamination to be carried out in accordance with established procedure (such as BS10175/2001).

These and many policies in the Local Plan 204 which should be updated improved and incorporated into the New Local Plan.