Using a report from another planning application

wclarke20

Hi all,
I was wondering would anybody be able to help me on this.
I am applying for PP soon but unfortunately I don't have the required 90 metres either side of the proposed entrance.
There was a previous application exactly across the road from my site.
The guy commisioned a (expensive) report on the traffic on the roads and to cut a long story short, the council accepted the report. (He was refused on other grounds though)

The question I'm asking is could I reference the report in my application without the need for spending money on a new report. Would it be available in the council under the freedom of info act?

Any input greatly appreciated!

muffler

I wouldn't see any real harm in making a reference to it but its doubtful if the planners will consider it.

But there is no way that you can actually use that report as part of your own application. Perhaps you could come to some arrangement with the author and/or recipient of the report but under no circumstances should you attempt to download it or purchase a copy from the planning dept. and re-use as part of your own submissions.

wclarke20

I wouldn't illegally use it for the application but I probably will reference it. I would hope that the planners would consider as it is the same small stretch of road and no point doing the same work twice is there??

But..common sense is not too common in planning decisions unfortunately!!
The author is a well known company and charge about €3k for the report :eek:

muffler

Common sense? That would be a foreign language to a lot of planners

The problem you will face is that the planners have to base their decision on the documents submitted with your application. You cant really say to them "Id like to build the same house as yer man on the site beside mine" and not submit plans. You cant do that unfortunately.

What I would suggest is that either yourself or your agent make reference to the report in a covering letter with your application.

wclarke20

Ye, I'll do that I think. I'll let you know how i get on in about 2 months!

muffler

Yes, keep us updated.