Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Gap road latest.

The work undertaken by Persimmon in the Gap has raised an interesting question.

Planning rules state that an applicant has to make a 'material commencement' on their application within a set time of receiving planning permission. For Persimmon and the Gap road, that date is August 2011.

Once work has commenced the applicant can, unless the application is linked to another project, take forever to finish it. That raises the question of whether Persimmon has actually started the Gap road or simply carried out some pre-construction requirements of their permission.

To clarify the situation Mark Boden, the Corporate Director (Economic Development, Planning and Housing) of Wiltshire Council, has been asked to clarify what stage the work must be at in order that planning permission doesn't expire.

As soon as a reply is received I will post it on this site.