Liverpool Council's planning officials in second clash with elected councillor

By David Bartlett on Jul 9, 09 08:51 AM

Liverpool Council's planning officials seem to be locked in a constant battle with councillors at the moment.

First it was Liberal Democrat Phil Moffatt and his railings on his Grade II listed Churchill's Food Emporium in West Derby Road Tuebrook. The planners wanted him to remove the railings, they lost.

And now they are clashing with former Lord Mayor Paul Clark who wants to build a house in his extensive garden.

The first case has already led to the resignation of Labour councillor Richard McLinden from the planning committee after claiming that the only reason the committee had voted to disregard advice from city planners was due to "political bias".

What will the committee do about Cllr Clark's application?

Here's is the story from today's paper:

A FORMER Lord Mayor in Liverpool is locked in a battle with city planners over a scheme to build a house in his garden.

Cllr Paul Clark lives in a Grade II listed villa in an exclusive part of South Liverpool.

He wants to section off part of his extensive garden to build a four-bedroom house with a detached double garage.

In 1998 and 2004 he was given permission for the scheme and has already undertaken some work.

Under the permission given in 2004 Cllr Clark had five years to start work.
But planners believe that Cllr Clark, who works as a barrister from the city's Exchange Chambers, did not properly comply with conditions before starting work.

"Not only is this a legal matter but the head of planning believes that this has resulted in some unacceptable impact on existing trees," a council report states.

"The head of planning does not believe that the 2004 consent is now lawfully capable of being implemented."

Officials also state that due to changes in planning policy since 2004 he would now not be eligible for planning permission.

The matter is set to go before the council's planning committee next week for a final decision.

Councillors are recommended to refuse Cllr Clark permission for the development.
Last night Cllr Clark said he was still in discussions with the planning department over the issue.

The former Lord Mayor (2007 to 2008) is the second councillor in recent times to come into conflict with the city's planners.

Earlier this week his Liberal Democrat colleague Cllr Phil Moffatt, who owns Churchill's Food Emporium in West Derby Road Tuebrook, won his fight with the council planning department over railings on his Grade II listed building.

Planners had wanted them pulled down, but Cllr Moffatt persuaded the planning committee to allow them to remain in situ.

It lead to the resignation of Labour councillor Richard McLinden from the planning committee after claiming that the only reason the committee had voted to disregard advice from city planners was due to "political bias".

Cllr Clark's home sits in the Grassendale and Cressington Parks Conservation Area, which was first established as a private gated estate in the 1840s in which wealthy merchants could purchase plots of land to build their own residences.

When Cllr Clark's initial planning consents were granted it was deemed that the new building would preserve the character of the Conservation Area.

However, since then a higher test has been introduced, and new developments must demonstrate a positive conservation benefit rather than just be neutral.

Officials believe that building in the garden would have an "adverse impact" on the setting of the Grade II listed building and the character of the area.

Planners also believe that the scheme fails to meet regeneration requirements under the housing market renewal initiative - another test of whether a new home should be built.

The loss of trees and potential damage to others is also not acceptable in the view of officials.