Erection of a two storey side extension and ground floor front extension. Minor changes to windows on the ground floor

The proposal was for a two-storey side extension with a hipped roof and a single-story front extension to that extension with a tiled, angled roof. The site was a detached property located at the end of a cul-de-sac within the urban confines of Sevenoaks. The road comprised of detached two-storey houses set back from the roads with plots of different widths.

Officers considered that the development would respect the context of the site and would not have an unacceptable impact on either the street scene or the residential amenities of nearby dwellings.

It was clarified that the extant permission granted for a two-storey extension would leave a distance of 1.15m from the neighbouring dwelling but this would reduce under the present proposal to 1m.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:       Barbara Cornell

For the Application:              Andy Collins

Parish Representative:         Cllr. Dilley

Local Member:                      -

Cllr. Piper read out a statement provided by the Local Member, Cllr. London, who was unable to attend the meeting.

The front extension measured 2.1m from the ground to the eaves and a further 1.2m to the top of the roof. The existing fence to No.11 Springshaw Close measured 1.9m in height.

It was MOVED by the Chairman and was duly seconded that the recommendation in the report to grant permission subject to conditions be adopted.

The matter of visual terracing was discussed. The neighbouring property’s extension was only single-storey. However it was felt by some that the added extension to the front exacerbated the existing difficulties. At ground level the properties looked terraced from most angles.

At 10:28 p.m. it was MOVED by Cllr. Piper and duly seconded that, in accordance with rule 16.1 of Part 2 of the Constitution, Members extend the meeting beyond 10.30 p.m. by half an hour to enable the Committee to complete the business on the agenda.

The motion was put to the vote and it was unanimously –

Resolved: That the meeting be extended past 10.30 p.m. by half an hour to enable the Committee to complete the business on the agenda.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and there voted –

2 votes in favour of the motion

6 votes against the motion

the Chairman declared the vote to have been LOST. It was MOVED by Cllr. Miss. Thornton and was duly seconded:

“That planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:-

1.             The proposed development by virtue or its height, design and proximity to the boundary would create a terracing effect between properties, which would have a detrimental impact on the street scene. The proposal is therefore contrary to the advice in The Council’s Supplementary Planning Document Residential Extensions and Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Local Plan.

2.             The proposed single storey front extension, by virtue of its height, bulk and proximity to the neighbouring property would have a detrimental impact on the outlook and residential amenity of the neighbouring property by way of loss of light and perception of overbearance. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Local Plan.”

The motion was put to the vote and there voted –

7 votes in favour of the motion

2 votes against the motion

Resolved: That planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:-

1.             The proposed development by virtue or its height, design and proximity to the boundary would create a terracing effect between properties, which would have a detrimental impact on the street scene. The proposal is therefore contrary to the advice in The Council’s Supplementary Planning Document Residential Extensions and Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Local Plan.

2.             The proposed single storey front extension, by virtue of its height, bulk and proximity to the neighbouring property would have a detrimental impact on the outlook and residential amenity of the neighbouring property by way of loss of light and perception of overbearance. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Local Plan.”