Appeal against a refusal of planning permission for the conversion of a house into two flats
Barnet council is generally resistant to the conversion of single dwellings into self-contained flats, particularly in suburban streets characterised by houses. In this case, the council refused planning permission on the basis that the proposal would harm the suburban character of the area.
The refusal relied on Policy DM01 of the council’s Development Management Policies, which states that the conversion of dwellings into flats on roads characterised by houses would not normally be appropriate.
On appeal, the inspector took a different view. They concluded that the conversion would not cause any harm to the character or appearance of the area. In particular, the inspector noted that it would not be readily apparent from the outside that the property had been converted at all.
The inspector also found that there would be no net loss of family-sized accommodation. Although the proposal involved two flats, these would still be suitable for smaller families.
Concerns about noise and disturbance were also rejected. The inspector did not consider that the comings and goings associated with two flats would give rise to any unacceptable impact on neighbouring occupiers.
Finally, the inspector attached weight to the provision of additional housing, noting that the London Plan places particular emphasis on delivering new homes on smaller sites, especially in outer London.
This decision is a good example of how refusals for flat conversions in Barnet can be successfully challenged where character impacts are limited and well evidenced. You can read more about how we handle these cases on our Barnet planning appeals page.
If you have received a refusal for a similar proposal, an appeal may be worth considering.
