Erection of a single-storey rear infill extension

Appeal Decision Site visit made on 16 May 2019 by John D Allan BA(Hons) BTP MRTPI an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State Decision date: 31 May 2019 Appeal Ref: APP/L5240/D/19/3223118 69 Addiscombe Court Road, Croydon, CR0 6TT • 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 & Mrs Andy & Louisa Bravery against the decision of the Council of the London Borough of Croydon. • The application Ref 18/06198/HSE, dated 19 December 2018, was refused by notice dated 15 February 2019. • The development proposed is the erection of a single-storey rear infill extension. Decision 1. The appeal is dismissed. Main Issue 3. The main issue is the effect of the proposal on the living conditions at 71 Addiscombe Court Road, with particular regard to visual impact and light. Reasons 4. The appeal property is a two-storey, semi-detached dwelling but separated from its unattached neighbour at No 71 by only a narrow margin to the extent that the properties give the impression of being attached and part of a terrace, despite a slight stagger to their alignment. The dwelling has an L-shaped footprint, with an original two-storey rear projection that spans the majority width of the plot but with a light-well adjacent to the boundary with No 71. This arrangement is mirrored at No 71 giving a ‘dog-tooth’ pattern of development typical for properties more widely along this part of Addiscombe Court Road. The proposal would fill the light-well with a single-storey, lean-to extension that would project over 5m, equivalent in depth to the existing two- storey element. 5. The Council’s Supplementary Planning Document No. 2 (SPD) - Residential Extensions and Alterations (adopted in July 2006) states, amongst other things, that single-storey rear extensions on terrace and semi-detached dwellings should not project any greater than 3m beyond the rear of the adjoining occupiers to ensure that the residential amenities of the adjoining occupiers are protected from undue harm. No 71 appeared unaltered to the rear. The Appeal Decision APP/L5240/D/19/3223118 2 extension would abut the boundary and light-well to this neighbouring dwelling and its eaves would project above the height of the existing approximate 2m high boundary enclosure. Its depth would exceed the guidelines within the SPD and, when combined with its height, would, in my assessment, appear prominent and imposing in the outlook from the neighbour’s nearest ground floor window. My overall impression was that the extension would have a discordant presence within an already confined space, and that it would create an unwarranted canyon effect that would significantly increase the sense of enclosure to the rear of No 71. 6. Although there would be likely to be some loss of natural light penetrating the rear ground floor window to No 71, I am not persuaded by any substantive evidence that this would be significant. However, by reason of its height, depth, and proximity, I find that the extension would be oppressive and visually overbearing when seen in the outlook from No 71. It would comprise the type of extension that the SPD seeks to avoid and would conflict with Policies SP4.2 and DM10.6 of the Croydon Plan 2018 insofar as it would not protect the adjoining occupier’s amenity and would thereby fail to enhance social cohesion or the neighbour’s well-being. For these same reasons there would be conflict with Policy 7.6 of The London Plan 2016. Conclusion 7. For the reasons given, I find that the extension would be harmful to the living conditions at 71 Addiscombe Court Road. Accordingly, and having regard to all other matters raised, the appeal is dismissed. John D Allan INSPECTOR