Appeal 3359938

The appeal is dismissed.

The main issue is the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the street scene and the setting of the Cowfold Conservation Area (the CA).

The proposal is to construct a vehicle crossover in front of Maplebank, an attractive semi-detached Victorian style property, to enable the creation of an off-street parking space in the front garden. The dwelling is the first in a row of four similar semi-detached houses, two pairs, which front the east side of [site address] just outside the CA near the centre of the village.

At present none of the four houses have such parking spaces, each being set back behind a slight bank landscaped to create modest front gardens with low frontage fences next to the footway. Whilst there is a layby/bus stop on the roadside to one side of Maplebank and a double parking space to one side of Oakcroft at the other end of the row, the four dwellings comprise an attractive coherent group with similar architectural detailing, and the unspoilt line of front gardens complement their character.

The application plans show that virtually the whole of the front garden would be replaced by block paving with minimal margins left available for any mitigating planting. In addition, the low bank in front of the house would need to be cut away and low retaining walls put in place to provide a suitable space. The result would be the loss of the existing verdant front garden, opening the property up to the road, and the introduction of a discordant hard landscaped area and a parked car which would significantly detract from the character and appearance of the row. With the row of front gardens complementing the wide grass verge on either side of [address] opposite, the proposal would also harm the character and appearance of the southern approach into the CA, thus harming its setting.

For these reasons the proposal would significantly harm the character and appearance of the area and the setting of the adjacent CA in conflict with Policies 33 and 34 of the Horsham District Planning Framework 2015. These policies seek to conserve and enhance the built environment, including heritage assets, and ensure that development relates sympathetically to its built surroundings.

It is appreciated that there are some other properties along [site address] with their front gardens made over to parking spaces. The proposal would provide a convenient off-street parking space for use by the appellant with the potential for electric vehicle charging, and the loss of on-street parking may have some benefits for the free follow of traffic. However, these material considerations do not outweigh the harm that would be caused to the character and appearance of the area and the associated conflict with the development plan.

Having regard to the above the appeal should be dismissed.