The purchase of a new property can often bring many challenges for investors and developers, especially if the use of the building at the time of purchase is not lawful. That’s exactly what happened to my client, who sought to regularise the existing use of a large Bristol property as 5 apartments. The use had been ongoing for decades but without any formal paperwork to establish the use in planning terms. Working with Nicholas Morley Architects Ltd (www.nicholasmorleyarchitects.co.uk) I advised the client on the evidence required to demonstrate continuous use of each of the apartments in the building in excess of 4 years. The new owner was able to work with the vendor to secure the historic evidence required, and the submitted certificate of lawfulness was subsequently approved.