# 52 Mintern Street, Hackney (Class MA, deemed approval)

- **Decision:** allowed, 24 August 2026
- **Decided by:** Planning Inspector: H Jones
- **Authority:** Hackney (London)
- **Appeal reference:** 6006932
- **Application reference:** 2025/1730
- **Procedure:** written-representations
- **Development:** Class MA prior approval: commercial building to 4 flats
- **Homes:** 4
- **Site context:** inside-settlement
- **Green Belt:** no
- **Framework applied:** No Framework version cited
- **Determinative policies:** GPDO Sch2 Pt3 para W
- **Main issues:** deemed approval
- **Tags:** tier-2, prior-approval, class-ma, deemed-approval, costs-application

## Summary
Four flats under Class MA were deemed approved because Hackney issued its refusal two days after the 56-day period ended (DL 18). The light and transport issues were therefore irrelevant.

## What made the difference
The Council backdated validity without evidence that the fee was missing, and the timeline was undisputed (DL 14-15).

## Policy findings
- **GPDO Sch2 Pt3 para W: pass.** application complete on 29 Jul 2025; decision issued 25 Sep 2025, outside the 56-day period, so prior approval is deemed granted (DL 13-18)

## Key facts
- Inspector: Framework relevant to prior approvals 'only insofar as it is relevant to the subject matter'; not determinative here (DL 3)

## Sources
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/appeals/6006932
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/published-document/0157e2f9-d81b-4840-a83c-323219e3763d

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Source: https://planningdistilled.org/research/england/nppf-navigator/decisions/PINS-6006932.html

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