Plainview Planning are delighted with the recent planning approval, secured at committee, for ancillary annexe accommodation at a family home in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The annexe will enable the applicant to provide ongoing, much needed support and care for their relative.
The Challenge
The London Borough of Hillingdon has a strong track record of refusing granny annexe applications. Their adopted Supplementary Planning Document, “Residential Extensions,” seeks to restrict the use of outbuildings to ensure that they are not used for sleeping purposes or for self-contained accommodation.
Although the proposed scheme sought to replace an existing garage, concerns had been raised about the potential negative impact of the development on the character and appearance of the main dwelling, the street scene and on local amenity in such a dense urban setting.
As a result the case officer had recommended the application for refusal and it was subsequently called in at planning committee.
Addressing the Policy Restriction and Committee “Call In”
Our planning consultants prepared a considered and robust planning statement which justified the proposed ancillary accommodation in light of the restrictive local policies.
We identified that any potential impact on local character and amenity was negligible, as the annexe would replace an existing garage. Therefore the principle of development in this particular location had already been established.
We worked with the architect and the case officer to ensure effective negotiation on the design of the internal arrangements, to protect and reinforce the ancillary nature of the accommodation and its link to the host dwelling.
Acknowledging the local policy position on outbuildings, we highlighted that special circumstances existed which justified a particular need for the annexe. We proposed a number of planning conditions which would ensure that the accommodation remained ancillary to the host dwelling and would not become a separate planning unit. We further strengthened our case by presenting relevant appeal decisions and case law, which identified how the scheme met the requirements of national policy.
Our consultants engaged proactively with the case officer, architects and the local MP before the committee meeting. Due to the sensitive need for the annexe, our client also requested to speak at committee and we provided them with the relevant key points to present.
After careful negotiation and the presentation of relevant planning considerations, the committee voted in favour of the scheme and the application was granted consent
About us:
Plainview Planning is a Town and County Planning Consultancy with offices based in Gloucestershire, London, Sussex and Essex. Our dynamic, knowledgeable and innovative team provide expert planning support across the developer, householder and commercial sectors.
We work as the retained planning consultancy for a number of national ancillary accommodation providers. If your planning scheme requires professional planning consultant input, contact us via enquiries@plainview.co.uk.