Appeal 6009146

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for the erection of a first-floor side extension at [site address] , in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref 26/0526/HSE, and subject to the following

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

The development shall be carried out only in compliance with following approved drawings: 11OD(02) [name], 11OD(01) [name], 11OD(06) [name], 11OD(05) [name], 11OD(07) [name]

The materials used in the external finishes to the side extension shall match those of the main building.

The main issue is the effect the proposed first-floor side extension would have on the character and appearance of [site address] itself and on the wider local street scene.

This limited first-floor side extension would logically infill a previous first-floor extension and render the smallest bedroom of the host dwelling more useable.

The totality of the side addition would remain subordinate to the main construction. It would still be no more than 50% wider than the original building and would retain the front set-back and hipped roof form of the present extension and be finished in matching materials. The extension now proposed would thus be in keeping the character and appearance of No [site address] itself.

The surrounding streets are characterised by a wide variety of built form and house extensions, including at the attached No 13. In its street context, I do not consider that the first-floor extension now proposed would upset the symmetry of the pair unacceptably.

It is true that the front corner of the appeal dwelling at No [site address] is already hard against the flank boundary of the appeal property with [address] at this prominent corner location and thus forward of the front building line of houses fronting [address].

However, the flank boundary of the appeal site is already established by its long, tall boundary wall of No 11, whilst the appeal dwelling relates primarily to [address], both visually and spatially. There is a substantial distance between No 11 and No [address] on the opposite side of the junction, maintaining an impression of openness.

In this context, I consider that the modest additional bulk of the first-floor side extension now proposed would have no appreciable effect on the wider local street scene.

New windows in the extension would be obscure-glazed and there is no evidence of potential harm to residential amenity or any other material consideration.

I therefore conclude that the proposed first-floor side extension would be compliant with the relevant Polices CDH01 and CDH05 of the Barnet Local Plan and D3 of the London Plan, as well as the Barnet Council supplementary guidance regarding the design of house extensions.

This appeal is accordingly allowed and the permission sought granted.