Services

Design + Architectural services *Architectural services only with full support + backing against 'planning control' as + if necessary. *Only take on projects now if inspired or eally want to do! Would perhaps prefer to act as 'consultant' rather than do al the donkey work + deal direct with the 'gestapo'?! *As elsewhere, little chance of me geting directly involved now...but you never know....?! *October 22 update > Inactive now as a designer following introduction of new interim Bldg Regs [June22] pending major update of same due in 1925...not thanks can't see myself re-learning + all involved..Enough..end of! Will always maintain interest etc etc + be wiling to put my oar in 'if invited'...??

Paintings [only originals at the moment] for sale - mainly abstract > *see under 'Gallery' *168 completed to date

*Am producing 'reduced' prints of some works [See under 'Gallery'], mounted but unframed only at the moment, also looking for 'commissions' where am given colour/colours/texture/size/where to be hung with possible reference/likes to sort of works already done.

Am into larger works now + again...up to 6'x4'!!, But not currently as have had a bit of a lay off since closing 119 High Street + need to get going again now with Studio/Gallery, now just 'Studio' with a deadline of circa 0ctober 2021 when it will be decision time to continue or to 'stop/call it a day'......!?!.

*Commissions sought on basis of colour/s; size; location to be hung requirements, with expressed reference/s + or preference/s to past work/s.***********************

If. when complete [for an agreed figure], result is 'not liked' - no charge I keep..!!

Please get in touch for more info/details, or to comment.

*Even better get in touch/take up the banner or whatever to join/fight, +/or suggest how, to start a revolution against the UK 'Planning Control' system that was basically flawed from conception, but has become progressively negative + dictatorially one dimensional over the years.*Even now is both locally + nationally an amazingly paper driven/2 dimensional ['at best' totally devoid of 3 dimensional thinking/appreciation] utter farce! + thats after being in private practice now for over 50 years!

During the last 10 years or so the pragmatic planning officer, of which there were always some in every authority as long a one could find, element has all but disappeared + what we have now are ill led/ill trained control freaks + those 'they' have trained to slavishly follow that same blinkered negative line, generally along the lines of > "I don't like or don't understand therefore no" which is stupendously wrong + quite bonkers!! *This applies generally, but even moreso to small projects where there is no time or money to fight - the system uses this to dictate mercilessly as is so very rarely challenged. Every single day some poor applicant somewhere in all the different authorities from one end of the country to the other is being sat upon, nine times out of ten having to play a totally unwarrented "Yes Sir/No Sir" game to get on + get an approval.

Yet nobody wants to know, nobody will even look at, to properly do so would bring the whole damn lot down like a pack of cards - so look the other way!?? Perhaps the current so called 'Cuts' mentality could, by default, lead into this minefield in a positive way!?

We now are in another new phase of meddling/playing with a system that has never worked properly + never will until someone has the gumption to take it apart + rebuild from scratch! Presott who made planning a million times worse than it already was, Prescott look-a-like Pickles who, with his 'localism' is going to continue the downard spiral of that which is called 'Planning'?? Planning is generally devoid of 'vision' as has been/is the case with those charged with overseeing same! Vision is an absolute must, without the dross proliferates. District Councils, in lieu of County Councils became parochial, now 'localism' is the buzz phrase, as was 'Public participation', BUT the latter pandered to the vociferous minority [majority who don't give a damn/would be perfectly happy with this or that don't write in!!]! 'Localism' will merely add 'locals' or 'Local groups' of whatever make up that will effectively be in danger of becoming/almost bound to become an authorised local mafia??? Look out....2011 + beyond does not look good....?

Having been mauled by the system through 2010 with a modernisation/extension scheme in Lavenham [Ashworth, Barn Street] trying to give an awful bland 'negotiated 80's infill box some character; some presence in the street scene, getting rid of typical 'breeding box' cats slide dormer springing from the ridge + white replacement Upvc windows - with dark brown powder coated aluminium fensteration in 'A' section/form dormers, where Babergh gestapo officer 'did not like' refused under delegated powers even though PC had OK'd the scheme + no representations from anyone else what a crap system!!!?] Reasons for refusal included "...would argue with adjacent listed building" how utterly laughable; inappropriate/alien materials etc etc, also officer said that he regretted the loss of tradional catslide dormer < clearly showing how ignorant these ill trained/ill led nobodies are. Clients needed to get on, so had to go back with a 2nd Scheme, went in with clients to see said nobody along with his 'Line Manager' [Ha!] both so grey they'd melt away into any background. Before they could say anything I produced a sketches showing what they would approve - retaining existing catslide dormer + white Upvc fenestration, repeating both in new work. re-submission was fast track approved!!! Work started immediately at the same time appeal submitted Appeal was successful, claiming for costs against LPA was not. So hollow victory - no way to revert to original design QED. Ghastly system protects itself!

2011 + have been in the mire once again with the same authority, this time at Harry Kings Boatyard, Pin Mill, Chelmondiston, Suffolk where 32 years ago I did a scheme to convert an old Maltings > Brickyard > Boatyard building into 4 residential units retaining one section for continuance of Boatyard business. Then all hell broke loose with locals/all + sundry basically not wanting any change etc etc - eventually scraped through by casting vote of planning committee chairman. This time a 2 storey rear extension scheme for one of the units created, deja vu this time Parish Council have objected, one neighbour - member of the King family for whom the original scheme was done for [wearing his 'no change' hat this time around'] has objected. Usual "not in keeping"/"spoils views"/"detrimental to local scene" etc + the like [much as 32 years ago]. Officer against - delegated refusal issued. Same footprint single storey scheme subsquently approved. Tandem appeal against refusal turned down. So the system that encourages mediocrity etc grinds on + on + on.....

My Pin Mill swan song being negative rather than positive - then its a last kick in the teeth is wholely [as the planners always say but can't 'be'] consistent!?! QED

Aug 2011 > See 'Bent Ridge', Brightwell under 'Design portfolio'.

From mid 2011 into 2012 > Fighting for a 'better' scheme [currently by Taylor Wimpey] for ex Unilever site [Van den Berghs], High Street, Needham Market. Was the sole objector, there are now 2 of us!? APATHY rules..!!?!! Application No 2910/11 on MSDC gestapo website! Comes up next at committee meeting on 15th February.......!?!!

February 2012 update > Last Wednesday the above scheme received the go ahead, committee vote unanimous to go along with officer recommendation to approve. I had lobbied like hell, contacted anyone that I felt might help/put their oar in or might just get others to think laterally/to think again/to see what a mess this whole thing was. Did produce a Sketch layout plan for frontage of whole site [including old Turners Garage/current Gym business] with 3D sketches + circulated same to committee members ete etc [before members site visit].....all to no avail! When I read committee papers I knew it was a done thing, + that failing some strong member taking up an opposite stance against this dreadful scheme, all was lost! To keep this short that is exactly the way it went .....they are useless, the officer/s concerned hopeless - all a very fine example of what is wrong/has always been wrong with 'planning'! This is a disaster for Needham Market + probably the very worst decision I have ever witnessed anywhere. Another example too of a National Housebuilder playing the 'planning game' so very well, as they ALL do, desecrating the English landscape with their anonymous standard boxes regardless of where/of existing built environment - historic or otherwise - they threaten LPA's with appeal + costs etc, most LPA's just roll over + play dead...as is the case here...the JOKE that is 'planning'!! Mr Pickles please note, not that he has the faintest idea of what he is meddling with, anymore than Prescott did before him!

Is there no way to get this ghastly planning system properly looked at?!?!?!?

Above not been updated now for some time, though planning system gets worse + worse by the day. Here Mid Suffolk has always been one of the worst in the country + shows no sign of relinquishing that position!! Will make the time + update shortly....watch this space!

January 2019 update >

Mid Suffolk District Council having bought the ex Needham Market Middle School site from Suffolk County Council have, after a number of pointless so called public consultation sessions, have now submitted scheme for 41 dwellings...Yuch!! Purely acting corporately as the worst possible type of 'developer' > to cram as many in is as possible for maximum profit!! Not for the benefit of the community for 'pure unadulterated financial gain'!! I have of course sent in my objection.

At the same time MSDC have also submitted their equally unimaginative greedy + disastrous scheme for their ex council offices site, having made the infinitely cretinous decision to move their offices into blasted Ipswich into Endeavour House, Suffolk County Council offices?! This scheme is for nearly 100 dwellings!!...even more crap!! All for the same short sighted/blind reasons as for Middle School site!! I have written in to object to that too of course.

Prior to these schemes reaching submission stage + before even the pointless so called public consultation exercises 'they' held various meetings eluding to say what their intentions for these sites were, BUT not giving any real detail at all, merely waffling on about "could do this"/"could do that"/'we are taking advice [Ha!!]. Finishing off [I was at one of these meetings where they came to talk to Needham Market Town Council] with "But whatever schemes are formulated all will be subject to obtaining Planning Approval then [wait for it!!] > the Planners will make sure that the proposals are suitable + to benefit of + in the interests of the Needham Market community"!! REALLY..fine words but I have no faith whatever in that ever happening, if it did it wold be the very fIrst time in the last 20 odd years that they have looked at Needham Market as a whole.

First 'planning' nail in the coffin was the Doctors being allowed to move to a greenfield site halfway to Barking [Refused in the August + approved in December, essentially because the doctors could not afford any other site?? The local Pharmacy then independent was created at the same time at the oposite Stowmarket end of Needham Market.

Second 'planning' nail in the coffin was the more recent Jubiiee Crescent 'pile'! A planner 'negotiated' with Taylor Wimpey scheme that utterly destroyed the centre of Needham Market in such a one off opportunity position here Needham Market could have had a once in a lifetime expanded centre with mixed commerclal/retail/residential development to enhance + create a once thriving relatively small community into a larger more rounded go ahead community relative to its historical past. What we have as the first major blow to any Needham Market potential that is now bearing further fruit to kill the High Street + turn us into a purely dead dormitary community! RIP in Needham Market.

All coupled with closure of the Middle School where SCC pulled the carpet from under it becoming an 'Academy' days before it was due to happen!! + Barclays closing the Needham Market Branch!!

Thanks 'planning' for such a wonderful bureaucratical blind job for which you should be pilloried out of existence....but of course won't be....then you might experience a sudden revelation + DO THE JOB that are supposed to do!! But then I have had 50 years experience in private practice in Suffolk watching 'planning' going from bad to worse + have no doubt whatsoever that, without some drastic central government intervention, Needham Market is doomed! Maybe Needham Market will rise up + revolt against this ghastly District Council, but unfortunateIy I can't see that happening........Will still keep trying, as have always done, but people will only come out of the woodwork when its too damned late?!!

August?September 2020 update > Middle School site + MSDC ex Offices site - building work about to start on 40/'100 boxes respectively that will turn Needha Marfket into a dormitary town! Plus work is also due to start shortly on a £600,000 Lake Visitors Centre behind Bosmere Mill alongside the river/opposite the lake that is supposedly going to help Needham Market 'prosper' but I fear it will do nothing of the sort, as people visiting the adjacent Car Boot Sale site hardly ever venture into the town now, they certainly will not need to at all with refresshments etc etc bing available at this new very expensive 'white elephant?? SCC + MSDC have/are continuing to desicrate Needham Market with any major investment/interest being concentrated by them on Stowmarket??

March 2020 update > Needham Market continues to deteriorate as more boxes [homes] being to be built on old Middle School site. ditto on old MSDC Offices site...!!

July 2021 update > The downward path of Needham Market continues as above mentioned boxes are now being built, in fact a couple are even now for sale on Rightmove!! The Hardware Shop has closed + its future is unknown, but most definitely will not open again as a Hardware shop! As Covid restrictions are eased life is returning towards some new form of 'normal' - its actual form is currently 'unknown'+ the next couple of months will show in what direction that 'new normal' is going ......!????

October 2022 update > Covid all but over, being controlled now by booster jabs, now we have Government imploading/Energy crisis all creating financial nightmare who knows where all wil end?! Needham Market going down + down toward being a dormitary town...???