Residential Planning Permission

[Manko]

The BA decided to legitimise Liveaboards by inventing Residential Moorings and Planning Permission more than three years ago, if my memory is right.

Finally, after a difficult battle, someone has finally applied for it and got it, despite the Planning Committee recommending that it be refused.  The vote wasn't quite unanimous, with one vote against.

This is a milestone, as Waveney River Centre now has permission for up to 10 residential boats out of its 130 moorings.

i think this is the way forward, and perhaps all boatyards should be allowed a similar proportion if they wish to, depending on circumstances.

 

[JawsOrca]

That's good news  it will certainly be interesting to see more come about. 

[JennyMorgan]

Meanwhile a certain critic of the Authority has gone to ground! Very fishy or just a coincidence?!!!

[kfurbank]

The WRC has had a number of "unofficial" residents for the best part of a decade. Just legitimising the situation before the BA could take action I think.

A good result though and more should follow this example. I'm sure we are all aware of other marinas which find themselves in a similar situation. As James has proved, the planning policies are there, they just need to be used.

However I do feel that Eddie has been stirring the silt somewhat in relation to Jenners which I now see as a totally different type of case in light of the section 52 agreement. We all know how slippery Eddie is when it comes to planning matters and wriggling away with what he wants, but I think Jenners would have been a swim to far for even Eddie. I don't think Eddie would have gambled his fish food on that one.

[Poppy]

Are there any posh houses overlooking WRC ? Thought not 

[jillR]

wow a whole 10 residential moorings

that should really ease the problem

but hey they are planning to cover lots more of the lovely broads with bricks and mortar,

a much better option don't you think.

 

[Manko]

On 5 December 2015 at 8:55 AM, Manko said:

The BA decided to legitimise Liveaboards by inventing Residential Moorings and Planning Permission more than three years ago, if my memory is right.

Finally, after a difficult battle, someone has finally applied for it and got it, despite the Planning Committee recommending that it be refused.  The vote wasn't quite unanimous, with one vote against.

This is a milestone, as Waveney River Centre now has permission for up to 10 residential boats out of its 130 moorings.

i think this is the way forward, and perhaps all boatyards should be allowed a similar proportion if they wish to, depending on circumstances.

 

The mysterious Fen Raft Spider has published his musings from the Planning Meeting at the Blessed Authority recently that bestowed the first ever Residential Planning permission at Waveney River Centre.  It makes interesting reading...

https://www.facebook.com/nick.south/posts/10156248611145109

[JennyMorgan]

Just to speed things up:

http://www.broadsnationalpike.com/2015/12/the-wrong-policy.html

Manko, who is this Nick South fella? Is he kosha?

[JennyMorgan]

Coincidentally it was a customer/employee of the WRC that started the ball rolling there by refusing to pay a toll on his houseboat which was moored there. Hopefully a more realistic approach to Thorpe Island will now emerge. I wonder if Ferry Marina will now apply?

[Manko]

1 hour ago, JennyMorgan said:

Just to speed things up:

http://www.broadsnationalpike.com/2015/12/the-wrong-policy.html

Manko, who is this Nick South fella? Is he kosha?

Nick is a great bloke. I should know

[JennyMorgan]

Bit weird, so I'm told. Please give him my regards if you should bump into him.

[jillR]

I remember the day we were given a draft that said all residential boats should be directly

connected to power water and sewage

you an imagine that went down well

[jillR]

this is the residential boat owners association response to the BAs policy DP 25 on residential moorings in 2012 ...

http://www.rboa.org.uk/broads101212

 

RBOA Response to Broads Authority Consultation on Proposed Site Specific Policies

Submitted on behalf of the RBOA by Ivor Caplan, RBOA Planning Officer on 10.12.2012

The following comments are made on behalf of the Residential Boat Owners’ Association (RBOA).

They relate to previous submissions made by the RBOA during the consultation of the Core Strategy.

The Residential Boat Owners’ Association has campaigned since its formation in 1963 to promote

the interests of people living on boats in the British Isles. The RBOA is the only organisation that

was formed specifically to represent the interests of residential boaters. It works to safeguard existing

residential moorings and increase their numbers throughout the Country. The RBOA maintains

and supports a variety of lifestyles for those living on boats and encourages a high standard of ownership.

It promotes good relationships between boat owners and their landlords and other waterways

users. It negotiates with National and Local Authorities in all matters that are relevant to RBOA

members.

2.4 Housing Provision

We acknowledge the importance placed within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on

local plans delivering more housing although we also recognise that unrestricted housing growth

around the Broads would not be desirable. The Housing Minister has confirmed that residential boats

can provide a small but useful contribution towards housing needs by enabling local authorities to

claim the New Homes Bonus for residential moorings with planning approval. We submit that these

could go some way towards meeting a small housing requirement on the Broads, whilst remaining

compatible with the Broads Authority’s commitment to its environment, wildlife and leisure use.

Residential moorings associated with boatyards can provide affordable housing for employees of

navigation related businesses at a time when many of these are struggling economically. (ref 2.4.9)

Enabling boatyard employees to live closer to their place of work and thus reducing their travel costs

and environmental impact, is an important factor in keeping these businesses viable.

Residential moorings can be designed to be sustainable, of low environmental impact and requiring

minimum infrastructure to sustain them. If appropriately designed they can be compatible with flood

risk criteria. They are also less permanent in nature than their land based equivalent dwellings and

are therefore able to meet the future changing ecology of the area better and have less long term

impact on the Broads.

2.7 Residential Moorings

The RBOA supports your comments that residential boats, whether navigating or permanently

moored houseboats, are part of the long term tradition and local cultural distinctiveness of the

Broads. We suggest that the more recent negative impacts of residential boats that the document

refers to may be the result of a lack of well located and designed mooring locations, which can lead

to ad-hoc and less desirable development. The RBOA is well aware of the problems that poorly

designed and managed residential moorings can generate and we have worked closely with other

navigation authorities to improve existing mooring sites and develop good quality new ones.

The RBOA commented on the Development Management Policy DP 25 on residential moorings and

broadly accepted its conclusion. We believe however that it is too rigid in restricting residential

moorings largely to existing boatyards and marinas. There are other suitable sites for small developments

of residential moorings on the Broads and these should be investigated and considered on their

own merits through the planning process.

The RBOA is not advocating a large number of residential moorings on the Broads but we submit

that appropriate small scale developments benefit the economy of the area and enhance its leisure

potential, whilst having low environmental impact.

3. Settlement Based Policies; Ref PP/TSA 2 Thorpe Island

The RBOA has been involved in supporting both the general boatyard facilities and more specific

residential moorings here for some time. We believe that this is an example of a location where properly

managed moorings can enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. It is well

situated adjacent to a significant existing settlement and could contribute usefully to its economy and

amenity value.

We suggest that the Broads Authority could better support the future of the boatyard business on the

Island. Since the hire-base ceased, the viability of the boatyard has been in question, not helped by

the succession of enforcement action taken against it. This has discouraged greater investment in the

boatyard which could have alleviated much of the negative aspects that the document refers to. We

are not advocating major development on Thorpe Island but the continuation of a boatyard presence

there would be to the benefit of the local community and leisure interests. This would be supported

by both leisure and residential moorings, the latter with planning approval which could enable appropriate

control through planning conditions. We suggest that further dialogue with Thorpe St. Andrew

Parish Council is required to agree future plans that would benefit both the boatyard and the local

community.

[JennyMorgan]

Jill. may I suggest that the RBOA joins the Norfolk & Suffolk Boating Association, NSBA, a body that campaigns on behalf of Broads boaters.

[Poppy]

21 minutes ago, JennyMorgan said:

Jill. may I suggest that the RBOA joins the Norfolk & Suffolk Boating Association, NSBA, a body that campaigns on behalf of Broads boaters.

It would be most interesting to see if their application was accepted. Somehow......