Hard to say what Nopta's opinion of the variation request is as we have no comment from them. I appreciate it might be poorly viewed upon but considering they review this quickly (20 days) compared to EPP41 + EPP 42 (56 days) we see differences in the assessment alone. There application might have something else.
Additionally, they are effectively 1 application. Same applicant, side by side and the same time. I would expect them to be effectively identical (but who knows again).
Nah precedent is something we get shot down on all the time as "every application is viewed on its own merits". Different location, different impacts etc. Iv received this from both assessment officers and our consulting lawyers alike. Use it as a loose comparison of decisions at court for comments but precedence isn't something to be relied upon. (doesn't mean they don't do it but they are quick to dismiss this process when it doesnt suit them)
(20min delay)