Detached garage

www.planningportal.gov.uk/planninginspectorate Appeal Decision Site visit made on 15 October 2018 by David Fitzsimon MRTPI an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State Decision date: 26th October 2018 Appeal Ref: APP/R0660/D/18/3210604 58 Gawsworth Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 8UF  The appeal is made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 against a refusal to grant planning permission.  The appeal is made by Mr Bob Cadman against the decision of Cheshire East Council.  The application Ref 18/3107M, dated 19 June 2018, was refused by notice dated 14 August 2018.  The development proposed is a detached garage. Decision 1. The appeal is dismissed. Main Issue 2. The main issue in this case is the effect of the proposed detached garage on the character and appearance of the street scene. Reasons 3. The dwellings within this part of Gawsworth Road are varied in terms of their designs and styles, and they are generally set a comfortable distance from the highway. This is a noticeable element which makes positive contribution to the overall character and appearance of the street scene. 4. The proposal seeks to build a detached garage in front of the appeal dwelling quite close to the highway. A mature hedge defines the boundary with the highway along with a couple of cherry trees. However, the roof of the garage would clearly visible above the hedge and part of the garage would be visible from the wide vehicular entrance to the property. 5. Whilst the design and external finishing materials of the garage are acceptable, its positioning would be at odds with the general pattern and arrangement of development within this part of Gawsworth Road. As a result, it would appear overly prominent and detrimental to the overall character and appearance of the street scene. 6. The appellant has referred to other examples of garages which sit forward of their respective dwellings within the locality, but these are very much the exception rather than the rule. Further, I do not know the precise planning circumstances behind them and I have considered the proposed garage against Appeal Decision Ref: APP/R0660/D/18/3210604 2 the character and appearance of the particular part of Gawsworth Road within which it would sit. 7. The appellant also refers to the size guidelines outlined on the Planning Portal for detached domestic outbuildings. Whilst I note that the garage would be comfortably below 4 metres in height, planning permission is required because it sits in front of the dwelling, closer to the highway. 8. The appellant also suggests that a bus could be parked in the position of the proposed garage, in the same way as a bus is parked in the forecourt of a dwelling further along Gasworth Road. Whilst this may be so, it would not be a permanent structure and it is beyond my control. I therefore give little weight to this argument. 9. For the above reasons, and despite an absence of formal objections from third parties, I conclude that the detached garage proposed would harm the character and appearance of the street scene. In such terms, it conflicts with policy SD2 of the adopted Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, which seeks to ensure that development contributes positively to an area’s character and identity. 10. Accordingly, the appeal does not succeed. David Fitzsimon INSPECTOR