Issue - meetings

Removal of the existing mansard roof, construction of additional two storeys along with front extensions and external alterations to create an additional 8 units with associated amenity.

Recommendation: Refusal

RESOLVED: That the application be refused.

Removal of the existing mansard roof, construction of additional two storeys along with front extensions and external alternations to create an additional 8 units with associated amenity.

Officers introduced the application and highlighted the information in the addendum. It was noted that a similar scheme had been considered by the Committee in October 2022 and had been refused for nine reasons. The current proposed scheme had addressed some of the concerns raised but had failed to address others and five reasons for refusal remained.

It was considered that the proposed development would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the area, would cause unacceptable harm to existing residents, failed to provide a suitable housing mix and would provide substandard accommodation in terms of external amenity space provision. For these reasons, the application was recommended for refusal.

A petition had been received in objection to the scheme and a written representation submitted by the lead petitioner was read out to the Committee for their consideration. Key points highlighted included:

·       The proposal would result in overdevelopment. It would appear dominant and bulky and would be detrimental to the character of the local area which was on the fringe of the Conservation Area;

·       The proposed development would cause unacceptable harm to the living conditions of existing occupiers in terms of loss of outlook, loss of light, overshadowing, sense of enclosure and overbearing impact;

·       The scheme would not provide sufficient amenity space to serve the existing and proposed dwellings.

A written submission had been received from Ward Councillor Philip Corthorne in support of petitioners and was read out to the Committee Members. Key points highlighted included:

·       The development would result in wholly unacceptable loss of amenity which would blight neighbouring properties;

·       The proposal was substantially the same as the previous application which had been refused;

·       There was a long history of unacceptable planning applications at the site which represented a concerted effort to change fundamentally the character of the area;

·       It was hoped that the Government’s proposed increase in fees for planning applications would discourage multiple and spurious proposals which placed pressure on the planning authority and caused anxiety to the local community.

Members commented that the application appeared to be very similar to the previously refused scheme. It was unacceptable in terms of its scale and bulk and the proposed development would not accord with the street scene. Five robust reasons for refusal had been proposed by officers and Members were in agreement with these.

The officer’s recommendation was moved, seconded and, when put to a vote, unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED: That the application be refused.