Agenda item

7.1

The Director of Regeneration and Development Services submitted a report informing Members of breaches of planning control in relation to the unauthorised installation of external wall insulation (cladding) to houses at Staniforth Road, Earl Marshall Road and Page Hall Road.

7.2

The report stated that so far officers were aware of 31 houses that had been fitted with external cladding to insulate external walls, including the front elevations facing the road. There were 19 on Staniforth Road, 10 on Earl Marshall Road and 2 on Page Hall Road.

7.3

The report further stated that the ‘Green Deal’ was a Government programme to retrofit homes with measures designed to cut energy usage and reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions. Sheffield City Council was committed to supporting this scheme in a bid to improve energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions and reduce fuel poverty. Some of the measures included the addition of external insulation, which involved cladding over the outside of the house walls with an insulation material and then finishing off with a top coat, typically a render material of some type.

7.4

Awareness that External Wall Insulation (EWI) cladding had been fitted to the front walls of homes facing the highway came when officers in the Council’s Building Standards Service advised some installers that planning consent might be required for such work; planning enforcement was then notified. At that point a number of houses in Darnall and Grimesthorpe had already been completed or substantially completed.

7.5

Planning Contravention Notices were served on two companies in connection with the works already carried out to houses on Staniforth Road and Earl Marshall Road to establish the details.

7.6

Letters had been sent to all 40 companies listed on the Council’s list of potential contractors in this field of work, advising that external cladding to the front elevations of houses would need planning permission if the conditions under ‘permitted development’ rules were not adhered to.

7.7

Letters had also been sent to householders on Staniforth Road and Earl Marshall Road advising that planning permission was needed for the work carried out on their homes. The letter went on to say that, on this occasion, enforcement action would only be considered against the installer and the householders would not be facing enforcement action/legal proceedings due to the particular circumstances identified. It had transpired, due to feedback obtained, that the installation companies had poorly advised householders and in particular had not informed them about planning permission and building regulations.

7.8

Any new breaches at other properties may result in action being taken against home owners and/or installers.

7.9

Since April, other houses that had come to the attention of officers were 107 and 111 Page Hall Road. In addition to these there had been a number of pre-application enquiries for external cladding to front elevations (not implemented) and there were now at least five planning applications to clad front elevations (decisions pending/not implemented). However, of all the unauthorised works, only 111 Page Hall Road was subject to a planning application (building regulations application was also submitted).

7.10

RESOLVED: That (a) the Director of Regeneration and Development Services or Head of Planning be authorised to (i) take any appropriate action including, if necessary, enforcement action, the service of stop notices and the institution of legal proceedings to secure:

(A)

the prevention of further harmful unauthorised external wall insulation to house elevations fronting to a highway; and

(B)

the removal of harmful unauthorised external wall insulation from any house elevation fronting to a highway (except those listed below); and

(ii)

take no further action in relation to external wall insulation at the following addresses:

·         368, 392, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 416, 447, 451, 453, 463, 465, 471, 476, 480, 482, 489, 500 Staniforth Road

·         397, 399, 403, 405, 409, 415, 423, 427, 429 Earl Marshall Road

·         107 and 111 Page Hall Road; and

(b) the Head of Planning, in liaison with the Chair of this Committee, be authorised to vary the action in order to achieve the objectives hereby confirmed, including taking action to resolve any associated breaches of planning control.