Blog: Great projects start with great planning - five planning successes in August
Five planning successes, four local authority areas and two counties. From an appeal win and Class Q barn conversion to the continued development of Lincoln City FC's Elite Performance Centre, we look back at a successful August for Fytche-Taylor Planning.
Five planning successes. Four local authority areas. Two counties. One month.
August has been another successful month for Fytche-Taylor Planning, with a diverse range of planning permissions and approvals secured for clients across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
From overturning a refusal at appeal and supporting further investment at Lincoln City Football Club, to unlocking the potential of a redundant agricultural building, our latest successes demonstrate both the breadth of our work and the value of getting the right planning advice.
1. Appeal win – new homes at Spalford
We started August with an excellent appeal result at Spalford, Nottinghamshire, overturning Newark & Sherwood District Council's refusal of Permission in Principle for up to two new homes. Fytche-Taylor Planning prepared the original application, which received a positive recommendation from the Council's planning officers but was narrowly refused by members of the Planning Committee.
Confident in the strength of the planning case, we advised our client to appeal – and the Planning Inspector agreed.
A key issue was the sustainability of the location. Despite the limited services within Spalford itself, the Inspector recognised the site's relationship with nearby Collingham and concluded that future residents would have reasonable access to its range of everyday services and facilities. The Inspector also recognised the Council's housing land supply shortfall – approximately 3.84 years against the required five – and the positive contribution that additional housing would make towards meeting identified need.
Importantly, the Inspector also found that the development would sit within the established built form of Spalford, infilling a gap between existing development rather than extending the village into the surrounding countryside.
Read the full Spalford Planning Appeal Case Study here.
2. Lincoln City FC – Elite Performance Centre expansion approved
Our long-standing work with Lincoln City Football Club continued in August with planning permission secured for further development at the Club's Elite Performance Centre.
Following the Club's successful promotion season and our recent applications supporting the transformation of the ProAmpac Stadium, attention is now turning to further investment in its training facilities.
The existing building was developed following Lincoln City's memorable FA Cup run and promotion from the National League. The Club has progressed considerably since then and its requirements have evolved with it.
The latest permission from West Lindsey District Council will enable improvements to facilities for players and staff, with designs being finalised ahead of construction commencing later this year.
As the Club's planning consultants, and with extensive experience in sport and leisure planning, we're proud to continue supporting Lincoln City FC's future growth and investment.
3. Class Q approval – barn conversion near North Scarle
Sometimes the opportunity comes before the application. Fytche-Taylor Planning originally visited this farm near North Scarle to undertake a wider planning appraisal of the estate. During that work, we identified the potential for an agricultural building to be converted into a new home using Class Q permitted development rights.
Our team surveyed the building, devised a compliant and sensitive conversion scheme and prepared the plans and supporting information for the prior approval application, which was swiftly approved by North Kesteven District Council.
It's a great example of how strategic planning advice can identify opportunities within farms and rural estates that might otherwise be overlooked – unlocking value from an otherwise redundant building while supporting farm diversification.
4. Householder planning permission – Sturton le Steeple
This approval represents the latest chapter in our involvement with a site at Sturton le Steeple, Nottinghamshire. Fytche-Taylor Planning previously secured outline permission for a new dwelling here, followed by Reserved Matters approval for our bespoke house design. The home was subsequently built and sold by our client.
We were therefore delighted when the new owners returned to Fytche-Taylor Planning, asking us to prepare an application for an additional recreational building at the property.
That application has now been approved by Bassetlaw District Council.
It's a great example of the lasting relationships we build with both clients and sites – and of applying the same expertise and care whether we're dealing with a major development or an individual homeowner's project.e.
5. Planning permission – 26th Lincoln (Witham St Hughs) Scout Group
Our final August approval was a little different, but no less rewarding.
Ahead of developing their new premises, the 26th Lincoln (Witham St Hughs) Scout Group approached Fytche-Taylor Planning for help securing permission for a new storage building. We prepared a focused and proportionate planning submission, keeping the process – and the cost to the group – to what was genuinely necessary. The application was quickly approved, allowing the group to move forward with its plans.
We're pleased to have been able to use our planning expertise to support a local community organisation and an investment that will benefit its members for years to come.
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