Appeal 3281299

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for the erection of a boundary fence and gate at [site address] , [site address] , [postcode] in accordance with the terms of the application, [name]/2021/0478/HHFP, dated 14 May 2021, subject to the following conditions:

The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than 3 years from the date of this decision.

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: [name]. SC.2aRoseberyRd.DG.1; Existing Plan Drawing No. SC.2aRoseberyRd.DG.2; [name], [name]. SC.2aRoseberyRd.DG.3; [name]. SC.2aRoseberyRd.DG.4; Proposed Plan Drawing No. SC.2aRoseberyRd.DG.4; and [name], [name]. SC.2aRoseberyRd.DG.6.

The materials to be used in the construction of the development hereby permitted shall be in strict accordance with those specified on the application form.

The main issue in the appeal is the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.

The appeal property is a semi-detached property located on the corner of [address] and [address]. At present the property has a low brick wall along the boundary to [address] that curves around the corner and continues part of the way along the boundary to [address]. The rest of the boundary is marked by a much higher brick wall.

[address] comprises mainly semi-detached houses. Whilst these are of varying designs, a characteristic feature is the low brick wall marking the front boundary, which on many of the corner plots curves round the corner. In contrast, [address] comprises detached houses and dormer bungalows set in more spacious plots with tall walls/fences/hedges along the front boundary creating a much greater degree of enclosure.

The proposed fence would enclose the garden area located at the side of the building, along [address], extending as far as the front elevation of the house. It would be located behind the existing low boundary wall which would be retained along both the [address] and [address] boundaries. Given that [address] is characterised by high boundary treatments and the property itself has a high brick wall along part of this boundary, the fence would not appear an incongruous feature in the street scene of this road.

As the proposed fence would not extend beyond the front elevation of the house, the boundary treatment to [address] would not change, and the property would retain the low brick wall that curves around the corner of the plot. As such, the contribution the boundary wall at the front of the site makes to the distinctive character of [address] would not be altered. In addition, given that the fence would only be visible in short range views when travelling along [address], it would not be an overly dominant feature.

Many of the other dwellings that occupy corner plots on [address], have also increased the height of the boundary treatments along their side boundaries, by way of fences, walls and/or hedges. Whilst some of these are set back from the front elevation of the house, others project further forward than it. Given this, the proposal would not appear out of keeping with the other corner plots in the locality.

The proposal would reduce the contribution the site makes to the openness of the junction and would be different to the boundary treatment found on the corner plot opposite. However, the height, design and materials of this wall is already different to that of the host property. As a result, I am satisfied that any lack of consistency would not have an adverse visual impact on the area.

Therefore, I consider the proposal would not harm the character and appearance of the area. Consequently, it would accord with Policy CP1 of the [site address] Local Plan Core Strategy (adopted October 2012) and Policy GEN8 of the [site address] Unitary Development Plan (adopted July 1998) which require developments to respect and enhance the character and appearance of the local area.

For the reasons set out above, I conclude the appeal should be allowed.

In addition to the standard implementation condition, to provide certainty it is necessary to define the plans with which the scheme should accord. A condition to control the external appearance of the development is necessary in the interests of visual amenity.