Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) setting out an application for the erection of porch, single storey rear extension, conversion of dwelling house into 1 x 1 bedroom flat and 1 x 2 bedroom flat involving demolition of existing garden shed and relocation of shared garden shed

Site Description

The application site was located on the eastern side of Deerswood Avenue and consisted of a three bedroom two storey mid-terrace dwelling in a block of six houses with hardstanding areas to the front and a rear garden.  The surrounding area and street scene were residential in character and the immediate surrounding contained dwellings similar in respect of both size and appearance while the southern side of the street contained mainly semi-detached houses.  The property formed part of a planned residential area of Hatfield New Town dating from around the late 1960’s.  There was a set-back of approximately 9m between the highway and the front of the application dwelling. 

The Proposal

Planning permission was being sought for the erection of a single storey rear extension and conversion of the resultant building into two self-contained flats with a two bedroom flat at ground floor and one bedroom flat at first floor level involving demolition of the existing garden shed.  The rear extension would be L-shaped and would measure approximately 3m deep by 2.45m wide taken from the boundary with No. 11; it would then project outward approximately 1.2m.  At this point, the extension would be approximately 2.9m wide and 4.2m long taken from the rear wall adjoining the shared access with No. 15.  The proposed extension would have a flat roof with a parapet wall and would be approximately 3m high and would be set 850mm from its southern boundary with Number 15.

Reason for Committee Consideration

The application was presented to Development Management Committee because Hatfield Town Council had objected to the application.

Hatfield Town Councillor James Broach spoke against the application.

•               The parking proposed was insufficient as it did not fully meet local standards.

•               The width of the proposed parking spaces appeared to be too narrow and not fit for purpose.

•               The proposal lacked soft landscaping which would impact further on the visual amenity of the area.

•               The proposed parking arrangements might impact on the shared access which would affect the two adjoining properties.

•               The proposed conversion of a house into flats, where the majority of properties were family homes, would be out of keeping and would spoil the nature of the area.

Members acknowledged that Officers has worked hard to achieve a balance between proposed development and the impact on the area.

Officers, in response to a question from Members, advised that the street light would be relocated to allow for a second car to park on the additional parking space.

It was then moved by Councillor P.Zukowskyj, seconded by Councillor A.Chesterman, that the application for a single storey rear extension, conversion of dwelling house into 1 x 1 bedroom flat and 1 x 2 bedroom flat be refused against Officers recommendation on the grounds of inadequate parking provision against the interim/maximum policy standards and

RESOLVED:

(11 voting for, 2 against)

That notwithstanding the Officer’s recommendation for approval the application 6/2016/2123/FULL be refused for the following reason:

The proposed development would result in inadequate parking provision contrary to the Policy M14 of the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan 2005 and Council’s Interim Policy for Car Parking Standards and Garages Sizes, August 2014 which would result in harm to the character of the area by increasing the amount of on-street parking.

REFUSED DRAWING NUMBERS 2.

POSITIVE AND PROACTIVE STATEMENT

The decision has been made taking into account, where practicable and appropriate the requirements of paragraphs 186-187 of the National Planning Policy Framework and material planning considerations do not justify a decision contrary to the development plan.