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News ... Updates... Successes... |
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April 2012: Room to move.
 It 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.
 Another 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
 Bloomfields 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
 Planning 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!
 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
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
 Bloomfields 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
 Bloomfields 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 
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
 Anna 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
 This 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
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
 Two 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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