Cheshire East Council Planning: Sandbach barn conversion given the green light

NEW BUILD: Acorn Bank Close, Wistaston (Image: Google Street View

Written by David Norbury

Wistaston, Cheshire

A neighbour objected to the prospect of an extension to a South Cheshire home.

The issue arose at 23 Acorn Bank Close, Wistaston where the plans were put forward by applicant Chris Buckley.

Mr Buckley told planning officers at Cheshire East Council he was seeking the new build to the rear of his detached two-storey dwelling.

Planners had an objection from 20 Acorn Bank Close which argued their visual amenity would be 'considerably reduced' by the height of the extension. The view from the rear of their house would be 'dominated' by a high brick wall cutting off their view of the surrounding area. They believed they would suffer a sense of enclosure and also a loss of daylight and sunlight especially during the winter months.

The extension would replace an existing conservatory according to a report. Wistaston Parish Council did not comment.

The principle of development within the Wistaston boundary was accepted provided it was not detrimental to neighbouring residential amenity and was appropriate in design and highway terms, the report explained. The proposed single-storey extension would be composed of brickwork with a flat roof and a roof lantern above. The development would have patio doors and two small windows and was acceptable in design terms.

Occupiers at no 20 had a concern the extension would be visually imposing when viewed from their dwelling and garden but an assessment suggested it would not have an unacceptable effect. Any impact on overshadowing would be minimal and there would be no significant visual intrusion or loss of sunlight given the glazed roof of a conservatory at the rear of no 20 would help to maintain the existing living conditions.

Approval was recommended subject to conditions and Cheshire East Council agreed Mr Buckley could have permission.

Sandbach, Cheshire

Bin storage was under the spotlight when an extension and a car port were proposed at a South Cheshire property. The application was lodged by Mr M Nevitt at 12 Redesmere Close, Sandbach.

Planning officers at Cheshire East Council were told by Mr Nevitt he was intending a single storey rear facing extension and a side facing car port at the semi-detached dwelling. The open car port would have timber supporting pillars which would be a less visually prominent design than roller shutters originally proposed a report explained

Six neighbouring occupiers were notified of the application and no letters of representation were received. Sandbach Town Council objected on the grounds of it being unclear where bins would be stored as there was no apparent access to the rear garden.

In response to this objection, photographs taken by the planning officer on their site visit, along with those supplied by the agent, suggested the bins were currently stored in front of the garage door or on the driveway. Given the oak car port was now an open feature and cars currently occupied the driveway space, it was considered the existing storage arrangements would remain viable.

A side access door included within the proposed development led to a small space off the kitchen/breakfast area which could act as an internal storage area for the bins. Overall the garage extension to the rear, an infill extension said to be 'modest' and the car port were acceptable relative to the size of the existing dwelling.

There were no other car ports within the immediate street scene but on balance it was considered the proposed development would not unduly impact upon the character of the surrounding area.

The proposal would not result in unacceptable harm to the residential amenity of adjacent and adjoining neighbours in terms of overlooking, loss of privacy or overshadowing.

Recommended for approval subject to conditions Mr Nevitt's application was agreed by Cheshire East Council.

Sandbach, Cheshire

Changes were proposed to a cottage in South Cheshire's open countryside. Applicant Mr H Bourne told planning officers at Cheshire East Council he was looking to convert a two bedroom cottage at 5 Betchton Road, Malkins Bank, about a mile from Sandbach, into two one bedroom cottages.

The end-terrace cottage, with a 'modest amount' of amenity space to the rear and an open parcel of amenity space to the side, is similar in design to the immediately adjoining dwellings, according to a report. The terrace style continues along Betchton Road. At the rear, the property is adjacent to a lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal, part of the Canal Conservation Area.

Existing brickwork would be retained with new entrance doors added to the front and rear. A 'very similar' permission was said to have been granted for 9 Malkins Bank to be returned into two cottages under an application made in 2012.

Four neighbouring occupiers were notified and no letters of representation were received. Betchton Parish Council expressed concern regarding parking and the implications for access for emergency services. The Canal and River Trust had no comment.

Pointing out the application was within the open countryside planners explained exceptions included the re-use of existing rural buildings where the property was permanent, substantial and would not require extensive alteration, rebuilding or extension. There should be no undue harm to the rural character of the countryside, they believed.

The splitting of the existing cottage into two separate dwellings would actually be more in keeping with the original cottage than the existing with the scheme simply re-instating the original one-bedroom cottages they suggested.

The proposed dwellings would comply with the space standards for single occupancy properties, with the existing ceiling heights unchanged and the remaining bedroom space being sufficient to accommodate storage furniture such as drawers or a wardrobe. On balance it was considered the principle of splitting the existing cottage into two was acceptable while the amenity space provided would be at least comparable to surrounding dwellings. There would not be any significant impact upon the historical setting or character of the conservation area.

Approval for the cottages was recommended and Cheshire East Council agreed Mr Bourne could have permission.

Sandbach, Cheshire

Neighbours had no objections when alterations were put forward at a barn conversion in South Cheshire. The application was made by Candice Brett at 3 Arclid Shire Barns, Reynolds Lane, Sandbach.

Planning officers at Cheshire East Council were told approval was being sought for the removal of a wood stove flue with numerous external alterations.  These included the creation of a double door opening on the ground floor to allow the installation of double doors, enlargements to two windows to create full height picture windows and the reopening of a previous opening to allow a further picture window to be put in place.

The rural property, set in the open countryside, is among a wider terraced row of dwellings created following the conversion of former farm buildings, according to a report. It also contains a detached garage and sits adjacent to stables.

Four neighbouring occupiers were notified of the application and no letters of representation were received. The report explained the proposed alterations were mainly aesthetic and away from the neighbours and would not be seen.

Exceptions in the open countryside allowed for aspects including respect for the character of the existing building, particularly where it was of traditional construction or appearance and would not unduly harm the rural character of the countryside.

On one elevation whilst the proposed new openings were contemporary, the existing characterful lintels would be retained while at the front the alterations were modest. Overall the character of the dwelling would be retained. There would be no significant harm to the open countryside.

Planning policies required that extensions and alterations should not cause unacceptable harm to nearby occupiers and the proposed openings would not look towards any neighbouring dwellings, nor would they cause any adverse amenity problems in terms of issues including loss of light or loss of privacy.

Approval was recommended subject to conditions and Cheshire East Council agreed the alterations could have permission.

Sandbach, Cheshire

A family room was put forward in plans submitted to Cheshire East Council in South Cheshire. Applicants Mr and Mrs Mountcastle sought the feature at 3 Hovey Close, Sandbach. The new build would be added at the rear of the red brick faced detached dwelling according to a report. It would be within the Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan boundary. Amended plans were received with a doorway leading from a utility room being altered into a window.

Sandbach Town Council had no objection subject to neighbour comments and there was one objection from eight occupiers who were consulted arguing the extension was not suitable for shared housing.

Householder extensions and alterations were acceptable subject to there being no undue harm to the character and appearance of the property or unacceptable harm to the amenity of neighbouring properties and residential areas, the report stated.

Locally the Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan emphasised that development should be appropriate to local character. The scale of the development in relation to the existing dwelling was considered to be modest and was acceptable, planners believed.

Featuring a gable design, the proposed extension had matching brickwork and was acceptable while the demolition of an existing rendered wall was considered an enhancement to the overall appearance of the property. The proposed development would not unduly impact upon the character of the surrounding area.

Planning policies required extensions and alterations to avoid aspects such as loss of privacy or overlooking and it was not considered the proposal would result in unacceptable harm to the residential amenity of adjacent and adjoining neighbours.

Planning officers recommended approval subject to conditions and Cheshire East Council agreed Mr and Mrs Mountcastle could have permission.

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