A client instructed Samuel Okoronkwo Jr. to provide legal advice in relation to a planning dispute concerning a commercial premises in the North West London area. The client had acquired a freehold property previously operating as a public house and sought to repurpose it as a bar and restaurant. Following renovation works and advertising consistent with the proposed use, the local authority issued correspondence indicating that the change of use was unlawful and threatened enforcement action.
The client had relied on advice from multiple planning consultants over several years, including guidance that no certificate of lawfulness was required. However, following changes in planning law in 2020, the local authority refused subsequent applications and insisted on advertising the premises for sale as a public house for a 24-month period. The client experienced significant delays and miscommunication with planning advisors, including one who ceased contact after failing to respond to council correspondence. A final application submitted in December 2023 was refused in February 2024, with the deadline to appeal imminent at the time of instruction.
Samuel Jr. advised that no formal opinion could be given until the relevant planning papers were reviewed. The client was urgently requested to scan and submit the documents to chambers to assess the viability of an appeal and determine next steps. The matter remains under active consideration pending receipt of documentation.
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