Appeal 3284040

The appeal is dismissed.

The main issue is the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the locality.

The appeal site is a large rectangular plot which runs from a private road towards the sea and is in an area of high quality established residential character with generous detached homes prevailing. House styles vary, the appeal property is of a modern idiom. The dwellings along with the generous garden areas come together to create an area of pleasing appearance, generally with a sea-side influenced informality and an air of landscaped spaciousness. The appeal proposal is to erect a sedum roofed car port in the front garden area.

[address] does have a varied front building line but spacious front gardens are almost always the common denominator and it is landscape and openness which set the scene not forward positioned structures. The sizeable appeal proposal would thus be an anomaly and it would be regrettable in the street scene. I take the Appellant’s point that existing garden landscape would obscure views from some angles and note the willingness to retain this planting although I’m not convinced a planning condition to this end would be enforceable or satisfactory in the long term. I also recognise that the front gates when closed and the pillars would block a large part of the structure from one direction. However, it would still be evident and ironically the gates and pillars, even without the car port, are fairly strident and not themselves the norm for this locality with its informal aesthetic. I am further troubled by not being convinced that the side boundary vegetation, whether on the Appellant’s or neighbouring side, would remain or survive in full given the planned proximity of the structure to the side boundary. It would be unfortunate visually for this greenery to be markedly reduced.

In summary the siting and scale of the proposal would run contrary to the character of the area and would be visually detrimental.

[name] SP1, and D DM1 of the Arun Local Plan are relevant. Taken together and amongst other matters, they seek to ensure that development is well designed and reflects or improves the character of the local area having regard to siting and its other aspects. I conclude that there would be conflict with these policies.

I have carefully considered all the points raised by the Appellant but these matters do not outweigh the concerns which I have in relation to the main issue identified above.

I confirm that policies in the National Planning Policy Framework have been considered; the Council’s policies which I cite mirror relevant objectives within that document.

For the reasons given above I conclude that the appeal proposal would have unacceptable adverse effects on the character and appearance of the locality. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.