Southern Planning Practice Ltd – Lawful Development Certificates

If you have undertaken building work or started a use without the benefit of planning permission or you want to ascertain whether planning permission is required then you may be able to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC).

Certificates of Lawfulness are complicated and the onus of proof falls on the applicant to substantiate their case. The practice has considerable experience in preparing cases for LDC's and we can assist the compilation of evidence and in the preparation of statutory declarations.

The following are examples of cases where the Practice has successfully obtained LDC's.

Live/work Unit - Eastleigh

This involved an industrial unit where the original occupier had died and a subsequent tenant had moved away. Sufficient evidence was obtained to secure a Live Work unit.

Model Aircraft Club – Winchester

This involved the use of a field for the flying of model aircraft. Evidence in the form of memberships and aerial photographs was sufficient to secure the LDC.

Industrial Units - Winchester

This involved four different industrial uses within a former agricultural building. As there was no written record of the uses it required a series of statutory declarations to secure the LDC.

Residential Dwelling House - Eastleigh

Following a refused planning application the Practice was approached by the owner to undertake an appeal. However in assessing the evidence it was clear that premises had been used as residential dwelling for a number of years. The owner had sufficient evidence to prove that the independence of the use and an LDC was secured.