Agenda item

Two storey side/rear extension involving raising and enlargement of roof to provide habitable roof space to include a rear dormer and 7 rooflights, including demolition of existing rear conservatory.

Recommendation: Approval

Two storey side/rear extension involving raising and enlargement of roof to provide habitable roof space to include a rear dormer and 7 rooflights, including demolition of existing rear conservatory.

Officers introduced the report and referred Members to the addendum sheet circulated. The application was for a side and rear extension with rear dormer and roof lights. It was noted that there had been two previous applications for an extension at the property, one of which had been refused, while the other had been withdrawn.

Officers advised that the application currently under consideration was markedly different to the previous proposal. The main issues for consideration related to the effect of the application proposal on the character and appearance of the original house and the impact on the neighbouring properties and the surrounding area.

It was noted that the proposals included a slight raising of the roof, but similar work had been approved at a neighbouring property. A raised roof was not considered to be a significant issue as the 45 degree line would not be breached. The proposal would use similar architecture to the existing structure and would provide sufficient garden space and parking provision. Accordingly, officers recommended that the application be approved.

A petition had been received in support of the application. In accordance with the Council's constitution, the lead petitioner, who was also the applicant and the applicant's agent, addressed the meeting.

The applicant's agent made the following points in support of the proposals:

·         Significant attempts had been made over the last two years to achieve planning permission for the applicant's dream home following the previous refusal in 2014 and an application that had been withdrawn.

·         The comments received in objection to the application were similar to those raised in response to previous applications. These issues had been addressed, therefore, a number of the comments were not relevant to the current application. This was particularly true of point 9 of the objection, which stated that the rear extension was too big and point 10, which stated that the porch was not subordinate in scale and form. The agent advised that the application currently under consideration did not include a porch.

·         Planning officers had not agreed with the objections raised in relation to the character and bulk of the proposals.

·         The submitted proposals were in accordance with relevant planning policies.

The lead petitioner made the following points in support of the proposals:

·         He had been a resident of Northwood since the 1980's. It was a great area in which to bring up a family.

·         The house was a family home and the applicant wanted to use the application as an opportunity to allow the premises to 'grow and flourish.'

·         The house was currently in relatively poor condition and had not had much work undertaken on it in the last 20 years. Approval of the application would provide an opportunity for the house to be updated and to provide extra accommodation for when the applicant's parents visited.

·         The previous planning refusals had been problematic but the issues that had caused previous refusals had been resolved and the majority of neighbours were supportive of the application.

·         The officer recommendation was that the application be approved.

There was a brief discussion, during which Members confirmed that they would be prepared to approve the application, given the changes compared to the previously refused and withdrawn proposals.

The recommendation for approval was moved, seconded and on being put to the vote was unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED - That the application be approved as per the officers' recommendation, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the officer's report and the addendum sheet circulated.