Appeal 3294367

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for a single storey rear extension at [site address] in accordance with the terms of the application, ref. 15351/APP/2021/4458, dated 7 December 2021, and the plans submitted with it, subject to the following conditions:

The development hereby permitted shall begin no 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: Site Location Plan ref: 10AC/P/01; Existing and Proposed Site Plans ref: 10AC/P/02; [name], [name] and [name] ref: 10AC/P/04 B; [name], [name] and [name] ref: 10AC/P/06 B.

The materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted shall match those used in the existing host dwelling.

The site visit was undertaken by an Appeal Planning Officer whose recommendation is set out below and to which the Inspector has had regard before deciding the appeal.

The description in the banner heading above is taken from the application form. However, I recommend amending the description of the development within the decision in the interests of conciseness.

The main issue to be considered is the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupiers of no. [address], with particular regard to natural light and outlook.

The appeal site is a detached two storey dwelling with a single storey flat roofed rear extension and canopy. No. 8, adjoining the appeal site, has a single storey rear conservatory and this dwelling is positioned further forward of the appeal property. As a result of this relationship, the rear elevation of the existing single storey extension projects beyond the rear elevation of no. 8. Both properties are somewhat set a little way from the shared boundary with a high fence along the rear extent of this. The existing single storey extension protrudes marginally above the boundary fence.

The proposed extension would project beyond the rear elevation of the existing single storey extension by approximately 1.4 metres and further along the rear elevation of the host dwelling by approximately 0.9 metres. The proposal would have a broadly consistent height to the existing extension and would be set off from the boundary with no. 8 to the same extent as the existing dwelling.

The proposed extension would be within close proximity to the shared boundary with no. 8. Nevertheless, it would be no closer to this boundary than the existing single storey rear extension. As the proposal would not result in an increase in hight above that of the existing extension and would only protrude moderately beyond the rear elevation of the existing extension, I do not consider that the proposal would result in an excessively overbearing impact on, or loss of natural light to the occupiers of no. 8.

For the above reasons, I consider that the proposed development would be acceptable in terms of its effect on the living conditions of the occupiers of no. 8, with particular regard to natural light and outlook. The proposal would therefore comply with Policy BE1 of the London Borough of Hillingdon Local Plan Part One – [name] (2012) and [name] 1 and DMHB 11 of the London Borough of Hillingdon Local Plan Part Two – Development Management Policies (2020) which together, require development to protect the living conditions of neighbouring residents.

In addition to the standard time limit condition, I recommend that a condition be imposed requiring that the development is carried out in accordance with the approved plans and a condition requiring the external materials used match that of the existing dwelling. These conditions are required to protect the character and appearance of the host building

For the reasons given above and having had regard to all other matters raised, I recommend that the appeal should be allowed.

I have considered all the submitted evidence and the Appeal Planning Officer’s report and on that basis the appeal is allowed.