Unreasonable Development?

I don’t normally list planning applications on my blog. Most of them are for modest extensions to people’s homes and as such, not something that we should all be concerned about. But just now and again something comes up that seems to be pushing the boundaries of reasonableness.

This is how I feel about a recent application to build two 4 bedroomed detached houses and a new access road from Woodcote Avenue into back garden land at the rear of 42 and 44 Woodcote Avenue, Wallington.

The application is pretty similar to a previous one that was refused by the Council. On that occasion the applicant made an Appeal to the Planning Inspectorate – the body that oversees planning in England to overturn the Council’s desision. The Appeal was rejected and the Council’s decision upheld.

With me so far?

Then in 2011 the applicant applied for something called a Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development in 2011 – for two in fact, to build two swimming pools. Significantly these wouldn’t need Planning Permission.

Now in 2012 the new applications are making reference to the Certificates of Proposed Lawful Development for the pools that were never built as an argument for constructing the houses. The argument goes that they houses would be less intrusive etc., etc.

I’m really concerned that the applicant appears to have used the granting of Certificates of Proposed Lawful Development as a ruse to circumnavigate appropriate planning processes. I am certain that this is not the purpose for which such Certificates were created and it is a loophole that my Lib Dem colleague Jayne McCoy and I have been trying to get the Government to close.

In the meantime, I hope that I can use the very good arguments that the development is inappropriate in an Area of Special Local Character to fend off this unwelcome planning application.

The grounds for de-delegation are as follows:

The new houses will have a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of Woodcote Avenue. The impact on visual amenity of the Woodcote Road Area of Special Local Character will be significant due to their bulk, mass, height and prominence. This is in conflict with Sutton’s LDF Site Development policies and London Plan policies 4B.1 and 4B.8.

The new houses do not respect the open aspect and space between properties which are key elements that contribute to the character of the Woodcote Road Area of Special Local Character.

The effect on the living conditions of neighbouring properties due to the proximity of the proposed new properties to existing houses. This will impact of people’s privacy.

The new houses do not preserve or enhance the local social, physical, historical, environmental characteristics of the area. This is in conflict with London Plan Policy 4B.8.