Appeal 3359591

The appeal is dismissed.

The description of the proposed development is taken from the Council’s decision notice. The description of development provided on the application form provides background information relating to an insulation scheme.

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

The appeal property is an end of terrace two-storey house, situated within a short row of four dwellings. The house is set back from the road behind a parking area and has a garden to the rear.

The terrace, of which the appeal property forms part, is located in a prominent position, across the road from [address]’s junctions with The Hale and directly opposite a large area of open space surrounded by houses.

The surrounding area is residential and is characterised by the presence of terraced and semi-detached two-storey dwellings set back from the road behind parking spaces and/or small garden areas, with longer gardens to the rear.

During my site visit I observed that dwellings in the area date from the same period and share many design features. This contributes to the area’s significant and attractive sense of uniformity. Further, the terrace within which the appeal dwelling is located is notable for its use of brick, render and tiling, such that dwellings present an attractive contrast, with brickwork to the ground floor and render to the first floor; together with render and decorative tiling to the gable fronts at either end of the terrace.

Given this and its prominent position, the terrace makes a notable positive contribution to the character of the area.

The proposed development would result in the application of render and external wall insulation to the appeal dwelling’s walls. As a consequence, the dwelling’s attractive brickwork would be obscured by the application of thick render.

I find that this would severely disrupt the visual harmony provided by this short terrace whereby the appeal dwelling would appear incongruous against the otherwise cohesive appearance of the terrace. The harm arising from this would be exacerbated as a result of the proposed development drawing attention to itself due to the prominent location of the terrace.

Taking all of the above into account, I find that the proposed development would harm the character and appearance of the area contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework and to Policy 53 of the Local Plan1, which together amongst other things, seek to protect local character.

In support of the proposal, the appellant refers to other examples of rendered dwellings in the surrounding area. [name] observed there to be numerous examples of fully rendered dwellings close to the appeal dwelling, none were within a terrace sharing the same qualities as that within which the appeal dwelling is situated.

Notwithstanding this, I have found that the proposed development would result in harm, and this is not something that is lessened by the presence of other developments elsewhere.

The appellant states that the proposal will improve the energy rating of the appeal dwelling. This is a factor that stands in favour of the proposed development, but it does not outweigh the identified harm and hence the decision below.

For the reasons given above, the appeal does not succeed.