Purpose

Officer decision

Content

Serve a notice under s215 of the Town &
Country Planning Act 1990 to require works to improve the visual
appearance of Burleigh House, Woodlands, Combe Martin EX34
0AT.

Reasons for the decision

1.1. The condition and appearance of the
property significantly adversely affects the amenity of the
locality.

1.2. The proposed requirements of the s215 notice (the Notice) do
not exceed what is necessary for preventing the condition of the
building from adversely affecting the amenity of any part of the
area. Further, the proposed requirements will remedy the harm
currently being caused by the condition of the building. The
proposed requirements are set out in section 6.6 below.

6.1. Council tax has the property recorded as a furnished
unoccupied second home. The property was previously recorded as
empty (unfurnished an unoccupied). Their records show that the
property has not been occupied since 2017.

6.2. Following a complaint regarding the poor condition of the
building and garden I undertook a site visit and it was clear that
the condition of the property significantly adversely affects the
amenity of the locality.

6.3. I wrote to the owner to request a written undertaking that
works would be carried out to clear the overgrown gardens and
repair the roof, rainwater goods, window frames and doors.

6.4. In response to my letter, the owner contacted me by telephone
and admitted that the roof was leaking and that there was a bucket
inside the building collecting rainwater. She said that she
periodically visits the property to empty the bucket. She advised
that she has found it difficult to clear the gardens and has been
let down by contractors.

6.5. The owner informed me that she was not able to commit to
carrying out the necessary works within a reasonable timescale to
improve the appearance of the building and land. I advised her that
I intend to issue the Notice, which will provide a timescale for
compliance.

6.6. The works required are as follows with compliance for steps 1
and 2 within one month and steps 3 to 12 within six months:
1. Clear the overgrown vegetation from the front and rear gardens
to ground level
2. Remove any resulting rubbish and debris from the land and
dispose of it in a responsible manner
3. Repair and/or replace on a like for like basis any defective
roof tiles and/or flashing to ensure that the roof is
watertight
4. Repair and/or replace on a like for like basis any defective
fascia boards and soffits to the front and rear of the property and
sand, prime and repaint white
5. Clear, repair and/or replace on a like for like basis any
defective water goods to the front and rear of the property to
ensure that the rainwater disposal system is effective in removing
water from the site
6. Sand, prime and repaint all rainwater goods white
7. Remove any defective exterior render from the building,
re-render on a like for like basis and repaint all exterior render
white
8. Sand, repair and/or replace on a like for like basis all timber
window frames and prime and repaint white
9. Sand, repair, prime and repaint white the timber front door and
rear door
10. Repair the front steps leading to the front door to make them
safe and usable
11. Repair and repaint white the retaining walls adjacent to the
front steps
12. Remove any resulting rubbish and debris from the land and
dispose of it in a responsible manner

Alternative options considered

3.1. The owner has not been able to commit to
undertaking works to improve the appearance of the building and
land.