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BLOOMFIELDS

Bloomfields are pleased to announce that they have merged with the long established practice of Lambert & Foster, Chartered Surveyors and Planning Consultants, based in Paddock Wood.

Anna Bloomfield will continue to work for the merged business, which retains its trading identity of Bloomfields. She will be assisted by Tom Ogden MRICS, a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor, and other existing members of the Planning Consultancy Team of Lambert & Foster.

This is an exciting time for both practices, where a wider and enhanced service can be provided to clients from both businesses, at a time when planning law and practice is becoming an evermore complex matter.


Preston Hall/Royal British Legion Village

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Outline planning permission has been granted for residential development at Preston Hall/Royal British Legion Village after many years of negotiations and working on a Master Plan. Much of the site was in dual ownership between the Health Authority and Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI). Working closely with Paul Dickinson who acted for the NHS, Anna has secured outline approval for four separate parcels of land for RBLI. The NHS permissions will also see the main listed building having a future after the hospital operation ceased on this site.


Bloomfields secures another new home

hermitage_lane.jpg After many years trying to achieve a residential planning permission, the owners of this Barming property instructed Bloomfields to try and succeed.  Working closely with the architect, Bill Brown, a modest development was agreed and application submitted with full justification. We are delighted to say that there is now a happy ending as planning permission has finally been granted


November 2012:  New house in Bromley.

 

hillcrest_road.jpgDespite an officer recommendation to approve this development by Prime Folio Architects, Members of Bromley Planning Committee voted to refuse it.  Bloomfields took the matter to appeal on behalf of the landowner.  The Inspector was persuaded by the case advanced and has given planning permission for the new house, which will make good use of a vacant piece of land. 


 

 School building scoops Kent Design Award  which recognises design and building excellence.

Bloomfields were part of the team that obtained planning permission for a replacement school building at Walderslade Primary School.

The innovative design by Clay Architects has provided much needed spacious classrooms, assembly hall, playground and outside learning area on a difficult sloping site.

Winner of Public Buildings - Education sponsored by Kent Construction Focus Group.


 

October 2012 :  Enjoyment of garden can continue.
Diligent research has enabled Bloomfields to successfully prevent enforcement action and obtain two Lawful Development Certificates.  These allow the continued use of land as garden by adjoining properties, and the use of a building in one garden as ancillary residential accommodation.

August 2012Timber racking finally approved.

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Well, it took some nine months and a lot of negotiation by Bloomfields in order to finally achieve a positive outcome for Lakeside Timber, based in Medway, to retain racking that had been erected to store timber on site.  The long-established company is now able to continue to provide its services to a wide range of customers without worrying about this planning issue.

 


July 2012: Empty property given lease of life.

Bloomfields have won an appeal to allow its conversion of these empty premises to be converted into six studio flats with car parking.  Following the case put forward by Bloomfields, the inspector concluded the scheme would result in a significant improvement to the visual amenity and character of the area which outweighed the loss of the A2 use.

 


June 2012:  MidKent College refurbishment goes ahead.

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Working with CC Studio Architects and Mark Hanton Studio Landscape Architects, Bloomfields gained permission for significant refurbishment works to MidKent College in Maidstone.

These include the demolition of out-dated buildings, the construction of new structures, re-cladding and a complete re-working of external spaces.  A separate Advertisment Consent application was also granted for the provision of a light box atop the existing seven storey teaching block.  This work will bring the Maidstone campus up to date and provide a much improved learning and teaching experience for students and staff, welcomed by all.


May 2012:  Workshop approved at boatyard.

conyer_marina.jpg Swale Borough Council has granted planning permission for a new workshop at a boatyard to replace a more temporary structure, that had been the subject of enforcement action.   Bloomfields were involved in the Public Inquiry where permission was first given on appeal and the practice also achieved

this latest approval.


April 2012:  Room to move.

thompson_caterham.jpgIt may "only" be a dormer extension but it was  a long fight to gain planning permission for this Caterham property.  Bloomfields became involved with this case over a year ago.  The site had a complex planning history with several previous failed attempts to achieve better living accommodation at first floor.  Anna adopted a different approach and has achieved a successful outcome.

 


March 2012:  Established business moves to new premises.

tko_kick_boxing_academy.jpgAnother success for Bloomfields!  TKO Kick Boxing Academy was forced to move out of its former premises at vaery short notice  A new site was found in a Maidstone Industrial Estate and the pressure was on to achieve a very speedy change of use from industrial to leisure.  This was achieved and gives this established business an opportunity to continue to operate in the area to the benefit of both staff and students.  The planner at Maidstone Borough Council certainly assisted that process


February 2012:  Certificate of Lawful Use

fleet_photo_3.jpgBloomfields obtained a Certificate of Lawful Use to allow a local company to continue to use their premises without complying with a condition imposed many years previously.

 


January 2012:  Living in the heart of Tenterden

tenterden_photo_1.jpgPlanning permission and Listed Building Consent have been obtained for the conversion of the empty first and second floor offices of a Grade II listed building into a two bedroomed flat.  The permission for this property, within the heart of Tenterden, will allow full productive use of the building and provide valuable additonal residential accommodation.

 


September 2011: Draft National Planning Policy Framework

Anna submitted representations during the consultation phase of the above document, on behalf of the General Aviation Awareness Council (GAAC) to protect the interests of General Aviation (GA) throughout the UK. 


Sunshine in Coxheath!

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After many months of negotiations, planning permission has been obtained for a solar farm at GML Construction's HQ in Coxheath. The proposed panels will support the national grid and will benefit the local community, by way of the Government's ‘feed-in' tariff.


August 2011: Building conversion approved in Faversham

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This is a relatively recently constructed commercial building that has stood vacant since being built.  After a great deal of negotiation with officers, Anna finally succeeded in gaining planning permission for a change of use of the first and second floors to be converted into three apartments, with the ground floor being retained for commercial use.  Impact on the Conservation area and neighbouring listed building were taken into account as was the supply and demand for commercial premises in the Faversham area. 


June 2011: Former Conyer Brickworks, Teynham

conyer_brick_2.jpgBloomfields were part of a team that has won two related appeals on the above site, after a lengthy Public Inquiry.  These decisions allowed for the erection of 24 dwellings with associated works and a nature reserve.  The remote location is such that there are many landscape and wildlife protection designations on the site, rendering any new development contrary to planning policy.  However, the appeals were allowed in order to deliver a 32 hectare nature reserve on the majority of the site, which includes Fowley Island in the Swale estuary. The environmental and ecological significance of this area was considered of such importance that it overrode planning policy considerations.  Delivery and management of the nature reserve is therefore an essential element of the overall development. 


May 2011: Chatham Waterfront Developments

chatham_wf_3.jpgBloomfields were the planning consultants acting for Medway Renaissance in obtaining planning permission for two related applications at Chatham Waterfront on previously developed land. Jointly, the proposals comprise a mixed use development of 111 one and two-bed apartments, an 86 bed hotel, approximately 2,000 sq.m of small commercial units plus ancillary car and cycle parking. The plans include landscaping, private amenity spaces and a new riverside walk.


 

May 2011: Houses saved from demolition  mill_hill_barnet_2.jpg

When Bloomfields took on this case there was a valid enforcement notice requiring the demolition of four houses in Mill Hill, Barnet that had been built in the wrong place.  Following discussions with officers and given a clever design approach, a solution was found that has retained most of these properties through re-modelling.  The Planning Committee unanimously approved these works, subject to a Section 106 agreement and the houses have been saved. 

Architects: Prime Folio   www.primefolio.co.uk 


April 2011: Conyer Creek Marina success

conyer_1.jpgAnna Bloomfield gave evidence as expert planning witness in respect of a Public Inquiry relating to Conyer Creek Marina. The site was the subject of enforcement action as boat repair and construction work had extended onto neighbouring land.

Anna worked closely with the client, barrister and solicitor and the team jointly succeeded in having the appeal allowed.


April 2011: Victoria House & Albert House, Cliffe

victoria_inn.jpgThis site had a complex planning history which included approval for the conversion of the former Victoria Inn into two dwellings.  Prior to Bloomfields' involvement, works had not been undertaken in accordance with the previous approval.  This was of concern as the site lies within a Conservation Area and the details were unacceptable to officers. Matters were made worse by the fact that the previous permission had lapsed. A new planning permission was eventually achieved with Anna acting as a mediator during extensive negotiations.   A mutually acceptable compromise solution was finally agreed by both the site owner and the Local Planning Authority. The revised works have now been completed to everyone's satisfaction.


February 2011:
 House saved from demolition

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Anna Bloomfield successfully overturned an officer’s recommendation to refuse planning permission for a house that was built in the wrong place. The refusal would have meant demolition of the house. To avoid this, Anna devised a practical, common-sense solution which Members of Brighton & Hove City Council accepted. Therefore, not only can the house stay put, there will be improvements to the area, too. 


November 2010: Design Award Winners

design-awards036.gifTwo major local projects for which Anna Bloomfield acted as planning consultant have won prestigious awards at The Medway Culture and Design Awards 2010. The Awards recognize the importance of quality and diversity in building and landscape design and celebrate the area’s thriving cultural sector.

The 2010 award winners were announced at a gala presentation night at Chatham’s St George’s Centre on 11 November. The Partnership Working trophy was awarded to the £11m transformation of the former Black Lion Leisure Centre into Medway Park. The New Build design category winner was the new Mid Kent College Campus (see photograph).

The Medway Culture and Design Awards 2010 are organised in partnership with the University for the Creative Arts and the Medway Messenger. They were sponsored by King’s Rochester, Land Securities, Mott MacDonald and MHS Homes.

Winner of New Build, sponsored by MHS Homes: Mid Kent College Campus

Winner of Partnership Working, sponsored by Land Securities: Medway Park



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