Appeal 6000619

The appeal is allowed, and planning permission is granted for loft extension to provide an additional single bedroom flat at [site address] in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref 25/00624/FULL1, subject to the following conditions:

The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than three years from the date of this decision.

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with drawing No. CRO51/1 [name].

No external works shall take place until details and samples of the external facing materials (including roof coverings, dormer cheeks, cladding, rainwater goods and fenestration finish) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved sample details and, where applicable, shall match the materials of the existing building.

The dwelling shall not be occupied until secure, covered cycle parking has been provided in accordance with details first submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The facilities shall be installed prior to first occupation and retained for that purpose thereafter.

The dwelling shall not be occupied until details of refuse and recycling storage (including location, capacity and design) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority and the approved facilities are provided on site. The storage shall be retained for that purpose thereafter.

The private external amenity space serving the new dwelling (as shown on the approved plans, including the area titled “The Garden Areas”) shall be provided prior to first occupation and retained for the use of residents thereafter.

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.

The appeal is made against the non-determination of the planning application within the statutory period. The Council has confirmed that they do not wish to contest the appeal and no objections to the proposed development have been received from any other interested parties.

The Council Officer’s Report has found that the proposed development would have an acceptable effect on the character and appearance of the area, highway safety and the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers as well as any future occupiers of the development.

I have had due regard to Development Plan Policies that have been provided by the Council which include Policies 1, 4, 6, 30, 32 and 37 of the London Borough of Bromley Local Plan (2019) and Policies D1, D3, D4, D5, D6, G6, T4, T6, H1 and H2 of the London Plan (2021). These policies relate to amongst other things, housing supply, design, parking and highway safety and seeks development that achieves high quality design which is compatible with the surrounding area and does not have an adverse effect highway safety.

The appeal property is located on the A232 [address] within a residential area and adjacent to a parade of local shops and services. The scale and design of the proposed development would sit comfortably within its surroundings given the variety of ridgelines and architectural styles in the vicinity. I therefore have no reason to find any conflict with the development plan.

In addition to the standard time limit for commencement of the development, I have imposed a condition requiring the development to be carried out in accordance with the approved plans to provide certainty. I have also imposed a condition requiring details of the external materials to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority in the interests of safeguarding the character and appearance of the existing dwelling. Furthermore, conditions requiring details of cycle storage and refuse and recycling storage are appropriate as is a condition for the provision of external amenity space.

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 my representative’s report and on that basis the appeal is allowed.