Background
A national housebuilder sought to gain consent for a 394-home project in Rainham, Havering.
Challenge
- The site had a chequered history, with an application by another housebuilder for more than 700 homes having been rejected years earlier.
- Our client had seen their application deferred twice within a matter of months due to unresolved concerns regarding parking – there had been a local campaign by the site and neighbouring ward councillors, and committee members were concerned about a precedent being set for parking provision.
Solution
- Appointed days after the second deferral, our first step was to undertake a detailed Political & Community Stakeholder Survey that would provide our client with a full understanding of the key influencers in Rainham and the Borough.
- Using this research, SP Broadway arranged and attended a briefing meeting with a key Cabinet Member, who reassured our client that there was still a desire to see the scheme come forward.
- We drafted and sent a detailed 5-page briefing letter to all members of the planning committee. This focussed on the changes made to the scheme in direct response to the concerns expressed at committee, highlighting the enhanced design, new access arrangements, financial contributions, and most crucially an increased parking provision.
Result
At committee, the ward councillors encouraged the members to defer the application for a third time. After a long debate, the scheme was granted planning permission by 7 votes to 4 along party lines.
