Minutes:
The Service Director (Planning Services) presented a report with regard to the proposed provision of a ground-floor front and rear extension and first-floor side extension and loft conversion with two rear dormers, at 6 St. Mary’s Way, Chigwell.
Members were advised that the application had been referred to the Committee for determination as a result of a minority reference from Area Plans Sub-Committee South at its meeting on 23 January 2019, after an equal number of members had voted for and against the development proposal. The Committee noted that the recommendation of the Service Director (Planning Services) remained that planning permission should be granted for the proposed development, although the application had been referred for determination without any recommendation by Area Plans Sub-Committee South.
The Committee was advised that the application site wasa two-storey semi-detached house within a built-up area of Chigwell and was not listed or situated in a conservation area.The Service Director (Planning Services) advised the Committee that the main issues for consideration in respect of the applicationwere its impact on the character and appearance of the locality and on the living conditions of neighbouring properties.
The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that the proposed rear extension was considered to be subservient to the existing building and similar to others in the locality and that, although the proposed works to the front and side of the house would be visible from the street, they would complement the existing building in terms of its height, scale and detailed design and would have no adverse impact on the street scene. Members noted that the proposed roof works were considered to be of an appropriate design, with the increase in ridge height matching that of the attached neighbouring property and, together with the two rear dormer windows that were well-proportioned and set appropriately within the roof space, achieved a well-proportioned roof in relation to both the neighbouring property and the wall height of the existing house, to safeguard the character and appearance of the locality.
The Committee was advised that the application site was located at the beginning of a cul-de-sac with the rear of the property facing towards a principal elevation of 7 St. Mary’s Way, which was separated from the existing house by the length of its rear garden and a pair of garages. A number of members of the Committee raised concern with regard to the potential harm in terms of overlooking into the first-floor flank wall windows of 7 St. Mary’s Way, arising from the proposed rear dormer windows. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that such harm was considered to be minimal and not significant enough to justify the refusal of the application, as the rear wall of the application site was a distance of approximately 23 metres from the principal elevation of 7 St. Mary’s Way, which was not unusual on modern housing estates. Members noted that the affected elevation of 7 St. Mary’s Way was generally visible from public areas of the cul-de-sac and that there would be no harmful impact to the living conditions of the neighbouring property from the proposed single-storey rear element in terms of overshadowing, outlook, visual impact or loss of light. The Committee was advised that with regard to the impact on the living conditions of 10 St. Mary’s Way and the rest of the properties looking on the rear of the application site, there would be no additional overlooking or loss of privacy than that currently achievable. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that the proposal would safeguard the living conditions of all neighbouring dwellings.
RESOLVED:
That planning application EPF/3043/18 be approved, subject to the following conditions:
(1) The development hereby permitted must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this notice;
(2) Materials to be used for the external finishes of the proposed development shall match those of the existing building, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority;
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order 2015 as amended (or any other order revoking, further amending or re-enacting that order) no development generally permitted by virtue of Class B of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Order shall be undertaken without the prior written permission of the Local Planning Authority; and
(4) All construction/demolition works and ancillary operations, including vehicle movement on site which are audible at the boundary of noise sensitive premises, shall only take place between the hours of 07.30 to 18.30 Monday to Friday and 08.00 to 13.00 hours on Saturday, and at no time during Sundays and Public/Bank Holidays unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.