How does one get building consent in the Green Belt.

Firstly, you establish linkage. You get a consultant to cost the renovation of an historic building. Make it about £2m or so.

Secondly create a Heritage Trust to distance the local authority from any involvement.

Thirdly, now you can propose selling off part of the estate for building land to raise the money and a bit more. This is especially good because you can call it "sustainable development".

Fourth, create a draft planning brief. Assure everybody the views of local residents, users' groups and interested parties are also of great importance.

Fifth, in the brief, produce some options which will obscure your game plan. Nine seems to be a good number. Most of the options are designed to be so contentious the one you want will "naturally" emerge as the least damaging.

So there you have it. Flog off the Bourne Road allotment site and build bijou residences with a river frontage.

Spend a bit on polishing up Hall Place and add some new changing rooms.

Council treasurers are happy, government is happy because development in the Green Belt is part of its policy, consultants are happy because they get their fees paid and the ratepayers are happy with the prudent actions of their councillors. And you have a precedent next time you want to nibble off a bit more.

Toby Clark

GrazeleyClose

Bexleyheath

November 14, 2001 13:56