Planning permission was refused for a two-storey side extension at 47A Briar Road, Thornton-Cleveleys.
In this case, the council did not object to the design of the proposal. Its concern was the effect on a neighbouring property, in particular a ground floor window located in the side elevation of number 49.
The refusal reason suggested that the extension would have an overbearing and oppressive impact and would result in an unacceptable loss of light.
In our appeal statement, we pointed out that the neighbouring window in question was already in a relatively constrained position. It faced towards the boundary, where there was a mature and substantial hedge. As a result, the outlook from that window was already limited, and the amount of light it received was already reduced.
The relationship between the proposed extension and the neighbour was also important. Although the extension would be close to the boundary at one point, its side elevation angled away from it. This meant that the sense of enclosure did not increase in the way the council had suggested.
The inspector agreed with this assessment. He noted that the existing hedge already restricted the outlook from the neighbouring window and that, given the orientation of the extension, it would not unduly dominate that outlook. He also found that there was no substantive evidence to show that the proposal would result in an unacceptable loss of daylight or sunlight.
In other words, while there would be some change, it did not amount to unacceptable harm.
This is not the only time we have successfully challenged Wyre Borough Council on this type of development. We have also dealt with cases where the concern has been the size and dominance of a two-storey extension, rather than its impact on neighbours. You can read a further example here.
