Appeal 6003605

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for the creation of a dropped kerb and new driveway at [site address] , in accordance with the terms of the application, [name]/25/0294/JP and the Location Plan dated 2009 and [name] 01 dated 16 February 2025, subject to the following conditions:

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

The access hereby permitted shall not be brought into use until dropped kerbs have been installed at the carriageway edge and the vehicle crossover constructed across the verge and footway fronting the site.

Within three months of the completion of the development hereby permitted, space shall have been laid out within the curtilage of Rowenburgh for a minimum of two bicycles to be parked in a secure and sheltered location and such provision shall be maintained thereafter.

The main issues relate to the effects of the proposed driveway on the character and appearance of the locality within the Lower Wanborough Conservation Area (CA) and on vehicle parking and road safety.

The wide grass verge which extends across the front of the appeal site and several neighbouring properties is part of a noted feature of the [name]. The CA encompasses most of the historic [site address] and former drove road along with the properties fronting it. The [site address] and the CA as whole have a pleasant, open, semi-rural character to which the verges contribute positively.

Several dwellings and the [name] pub neighbouring the appeal site have long-established, hard-surfaced vehicle crossovers within the wide grass verge fronting them. Rowenburgh is the exception.

No objection is raised to the forecourt parking associated with the proposed driveway, but the additional crossover would occupy a strip of the verge up to 4m wide. This would detract in some measure from the open rural nature of the wide verge in this location.

In my judgement however, the nature and limited scale of the grasscrete crossover would not make a great difference to the character or appearance of the immediate locality, where the open, green quality of the wide verge would still predominate, even if grass growth within the grasscrete matrix were depleted to an extent.

Moreover, whilst the grass verges of the former drove road extend throughout the [site address] , in the vicinity of the appeal site the verge is exceptionally wide, such that I would not see this development as forming any unacceptable precedent.

I nevertheless accept that, in terms of national policy concerning development affecting designated heritage assets, there would be a degree of less than substantial harm to the character and appearance of the [name] as whole. This carries due weight against this appeal, which must be offset by public benefits for this appeal to succeed.

In my further judgement however, that degree of less than substantial harm to the CA as whole would be slight, such that the development would not greatly undermine the aims of Polices DE1 or EN10 of the adopted Swindon Borough Local Plan to achieve high quality design and sustain and enhance the historic environment.

[site address] is subject to a 30mph speed limit and traffic calming measures, such that vehicle speeds are likely to be modest, whilst and traffic flows are light. I do not consider that the use of the proposed driveway would give rise to any unacceptable road safety concerns in terms of visibility or conflict with passing traffic. I note that there is no objection from the highway authority on safety grounds.

Furthermore, there is a considerable level of local support for the proposed development, which would enable cars to park off-street at the appeal property, potentially reducing on-street parking demand close to the [name], from where some parking evidently spills over onto the highway on occasion.

Overall, I see a public planning benefit arising from the proposed development in terms of parking and road safety. This carries due weight in favour of this appeal.

On balance, I consider that the slight degree of less than substantial harm to the [name] would be outweighed by the degree of public benefit arising from the development.

A suggested condition to defer use of the driveway pending the completion of the dropped kerb is appropriate in the interest of road safety.

A further suggested condition regarding cycle storage in association with the new parking spaces within the appeal property is also appropriate, in the interest of sustainable travel. However, rather than requiring this within six months of the date of permission, as suggested, I consider it more appropriate to relate this condition to the date of completion of the driveway and allow three months for compliance, which seems to me to ample time in the circumstances.

Subject to those conditions and for the reasons explained, and I conclude that the appeal should be allowed and the permission sought granted.