Taxi Driver Online

Nothing out of the ordinary about the substantive planning stuff here. But makes you wonder why this became a planning issue in the first place - maybe something to do with the application for an operator's licence? They must have to decide an awful lot of these...

But I'd guess there are thousands of similar scenarios up and down the country doing this kind of one-man-band thing without planning permission

(On first reading I thought that this was a planning application, and that it had been granted. But basically it's a huge rigmarole to say that planning permission isn't required

I wonder if this is routine for stuff like this? Maybe it is, and maybe the Bolton News just making a slight meal out of it. Slow news time of the year...)


Astley Bridge home to take bookings for private hire vehicle

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/25 ... e-vehicle/


Image: Google Maps/The Bolton News

A homeowner has been given the green light to use their home to take bookings for private hire vehicles.

The application was for a Certificate of Lawfulness to confirm that the use of the Astley Bridge house is within guidelines.

Bolton Council’s planning officers confirmed that the house on Waverley Road will remain a family home, with bookings made online and no customers visiting the property.

They were satisfied that the use would not generate significant amounts of traffic, noise or any visible signs of the business, including advertisements.

But they noted that any increased business activity or customers calling to the home may result in a material change of use, which would require planning permission.

The council's report said: "The proposed additional use, which would take up a small portion of the dwelling as a base for the operation of one private hire vehicle to be used by one operator, is considered to be lawful, provided only one vehicle is used, and no customers are calling at the premises, and no on-site advertising."

A decision on the application was made on December 23.

And several allusions in the comments about money laundering, drug dealing and that the applicant should be paying business rates etc

Again, if that was the case then I'd guess there are possibly thousands (if not tens of thousands) of drivers in the country who should be paying business rates, but aren't.

Thankfully, most councils don't require such permission.

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IDFIMH

At my previous house in New Romney it was permitted to run up to 3 private hire cars from home, noo planning permission required as long as there wouldn't be customers calling at the premises. Just imagine if all the delivery drivers needed planning permission...