Appeal 3321127

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for development described as 8 solar panels to be installed on roof of property at [site address] , [name], Croydon, London [postcode] in accordance with the terms of the application ref: 23/00357/HSE, dated 28 January 2023, subject to the following conditions:

The development hereby permitted shall begin no later than three years from the date of this decision.

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans and documents: Site Location Plan; [name] – [name]; and [name].

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.

Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the [address] Conservation Area (CA).

The proposal is located within the [address] Character Area of the CA. [address] Conservation Area and Management Plan (CAMP) identifies the character of [address] as large detached historic buildings set on relatively large plots, set back from the street behind generous front gardens. It goes on to describe Tree View Close as back-land development comprising much smaller plots at a higher density than the historic properties. The CAMP finds Tree View Close to not respect the area’s established layout, diluting the integrity of the CA and having a detrimental impact on the street scene.

The appeal property forms an end dwelling within the modern development of Tree View Close, accessed via [address]. The dwellings comprising Tree View Close are simple in their design, utilising contemporary materials, sharing a similar appearance. The appeal property is mostly screened from [address], offering only fleeting glimpses from this viewpoint. It does not reflect the architecture, density, or relationship to the street scene of the historic buildings within the CA. These factors mean the existing building does not positively contribute to the significance of the CA. The CAMP does not consider solar panels on roofscapes visible from the road to be appropriate, due to their impacts on the character and appearance of buildings.

The proposed solar panels would be located on, and within the confines of, the front roof slope, limiting any alteration to its existing form. The proposal would appear in-keeping with the modern materials and design of the dwellings comprising Tree View Close, appearing unobtrusive and conforming to the surrounding buildings. The proposal would have limited visibility from [address] and would be viewed in the context of the contemporary built environment within which it is located.

The proposal would consequently conserve the existing nature of the appeal property and that of the wider Tree View Close, preserving the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. There are thus reasons to justify a departure from the relevant parts of the CAMP in this case. Accordingly, the proposal would comply with Policies D3 and HC1 of the London Plan: The Spatial Development Strategy for [name] 2021, and Policies SP4, DM10, and DM18 of the Croydon Local Plan 2018, which collectively require new development to respect and preserve the character, appearance, and setting of heritage assets. The proposal would also broadly comply the guidance contained within the CAMP, which requires all development proposals to preserve or enhance the Conservation Area’s character and appearance.

Other than the standard time limit condition, it is necessary to ensure that the development is carried out in accordance with the approved plans for certainty.

The appeal scheme would comply with the development plan. As such, I recommend it be allowed, subject to the conditions set out.

I have considered all the submitted evidence and my representative’s recommendation and on that basis I allow the appeal.