Appeal 3332410

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for alterations including installation of 1m high fence on existing brick boundary wall at [site address] , Wandsworth, London [postcode] in accordance with the terms of the application, ref. 2023/2361, 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: PP-12169910v1; TQRQM23171224244161; [address] [name]; and [address] [name].

The site visit was undertaken by a representative of the Inspector whose recommendation is set out below and to which the Inspector has had regard before deciding the appeal.

For the purposes of the decision, I have used the description of development within the decision notice as it more accurately represents the proposal.

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

The appeal property forms a two-storey dwelling adjoining [address] within a primarily residential area. There is variety in the boundary treatments of these properties adjoining the highway, with respect to both scale and materials. As such, the transition between the public and private realm lacks any definitive character.

The elevation of the appeal property adjacent to [address] comprises a substantial expanse of brick, continuing well above the head of the first-floor window. When combined with its close proximity to the highway, therefore contributing little to the openness of the public realm, the dwelling appears as a significant and visually dominating form when viewed from the street scene. The eastern elevation adjoins a public footway with a sizable hedge protruding above the boundary wall obscuring the ground floor windows and creating a solid boundary with the public realm.

The proposed addition of fencing above the boundary wall would appear similar to other boundary treatments within the area, reflecting the existing appearance of the street scene. The Council states that some of these boundary treatments do not benefit from express planning permission. Nevertheless, a number appear to have been in situ for several years and form part of the existing character and appearance of the area in which the proposal would be viewed.

When viewed from [address], the proposal would seem unobtrusive and proportionate within the context of the much more imposing host dwelling, and so would preserve the character and appearance of the street scene. The proposed fencing along the eastern elevation would be of a similar height to that of the existing hedge, maintaining the constitution of the adjoining footway and existing levels of informal surveillance from adjacent windows. Trellising would be utilised above the section of wall between the ground floor window and [address], continuing a level of informal surveillance of the street beyond.

Consequently, the proposal would not harm the character or appearance of the area. It would thus, in regard to this main issue, accord with Policies LP1 and LP5 of the Wandsworth Local Plan 2023-2038 (2023) and the Wandsworth Local Plan Housing Supplementary Planning Document (2016) which, when read together, require new development to relate to the prevailing local character and for free-standing structures to be appropriate in terms of their scale and design.

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. As the materials are clearly stipulated within the submitted plans, it is unnecessary to impose a separate materials condition.

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

I have considered all the submitted evidence and my representative’s report and on that basis the appeal is allowed.