Mr Matt White
Our Ref: 587/475
Date: 25 August 2009
Re:
Planning applications featuring a change of use from A1 (shop), under the
Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987.
Dear Mr White
Further to you above request, I can confirm that the Council has the information you
asked for. As you have requested information relating to planning applications, it has
been determined that the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) is the
appropriate legislation.
On 4th August 2009 you asked for the following information:
In the last 5 years:
1) How many planning applications have you received featuring a
change of use from A1?
2) Of those applications in 1, how many of these were
retrospective?
3) How many planning applications have you received from Starbucks
(or their representatives) featuring a change of use from A1?
4) Of those applications in 3, how many of these were
retrospective? Questions 1 & 2 are defined by the Council as “Historic Searches” for which there is a
charge of £42 +VAT/hour. An initial assessment shows that there have been 190
Change of Use (COU) applications over the last 5 years. As the information about the
change type or retrospective applications is recorded in a free text field, we cannot
query our system. We would, therefore, have to inspect each file to determine whether:
a) It is potentially an A1 change of use and if so;
b) Whether it was retrospective.
We have estimated that to query the system and then assess each application would
take on average 5mins/application. This would take about 15.8 hours which equates to
a charge of £763.14. If you would like us to carry out this work, you must send a
payment for the above amount either by debit/credit card over the phone on 01305
838000 or by cheque to the above address quoting the reference 587/475.
Alternatively, most of this information is accessible via our website –
http://www.weymouth.gov.uk/home.asp?sv=855. If you carry out a search based on
the Planning Reference Number using the code COU, that will bring up all the Change
of Use applications for the last 13 years and for any request after 1st December 2005,
the planning documents can be viewed. You are also welcome to visit the Council
Offices between 0900-1600 Mon – Fri and inspect the planning files free of charge
other than a nominal charge for copies.
With regards to questions 3 & 4, I can confirm that we have only received 1 application
from Starbucks requesting a Change Of Use from A1 which was in 2008 and I can
confirm that it was not a retrospective application.
Your request will now be suspended and if I do not hear from you within 30 days, I will
assume that you do not want to proceed with the search and your request will be
closed. If you have any questions, please do contact me.
Yours sincerely
David Sinclair
Freedom of Information Officer
The Information Commissioner's Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Public Interest Test
Exemption
Description
For
Against
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