Application number: 18/P1356   Ward: Merton Park

Officer Recommendation: GRANT Planning Permission subject to conditions

Proposal: Demolition of the existing garage and the erection of a single storey dwellinghouse

The Committee noted the officers report and presentation and information in the Supplementary Agenda

The Objector raised residents’ concerns, including:

·         Design out of  character with the rest Merton Park

·         Will have negative impact on characteristic  tree lined roads

·         This is overdevelopment of a small back garden plot

·         It will be an eyesore for neighbours, who will be able to see it from their first floor windows

·         It will negatively affect neighbours enjoyment of their gardens

·         If allowed it may set precedent for developers to buy up and build on other back gardens in the area

·         Kenley Road is already congested, an extra house will add to parking problems in the area.

·         Tree roots will be affected by the building

·         Residents will suffer during the construction phase

·         Drainage in the area is poor – the development will add to flood risk

The Applicant’s Agent made points including:

·         The Applicant is not a developer, he bought the land in order to build a house for a family member

·         The application is for an elegant single storey house that will be well hidden behind a 1.8m fence

·         The applicant has worked with the Planning Department and reduced the scale of the proposal from previous refused schemes

·         It wont look out of place in its setting, the roof is a smart contemporary design

In reply to the objectors comments  Officers said that neither the Tree  Officer nor  Highways Officers had any objections to the Scheme. Building works is not a Planning issue, and standard Construction Times and Construction  Vehicles conditions are already included. The area is not in a flood risk zone

In reply to Members’ questions Officers replied:

·         The proposed building is roughly 2 to 3m away from the front fence, and is now roughly 2m away from fence at rear boundary. Previous application had was set right next to this boundary back fence.

·         It is not uncommon for gardens in residential areas to contain garages

·         Windows are placed at the front of the property onto Kenley Road, and at the rear overlooking the open space

·         Previous applications on this site have been much bigger, and the most recently rejected included a basement, was right up to back fence, and included a parking area.  The current proposal is very different to the previously refused applications; it has a better roof design, it is more hidden, it is of reduced size and has less impact on neighbours.

·         With regards to precedent, there are other similar sites with road access in the area but they do not all have the necessary plot size. All planning applications have to be considered on their own merits.

·         If the applicant wanted to add a basement to the proposal they would have to come back to Committee to gain approval.

Members made  comments including:

·         Applicant has noted past refusals and made this application much smaller and less dominant.

·         Flooding is not an issue

·         There is a desperate need for all types of housing in the Borough and even though this is only for 1 or 2 people it will help to alleviate this problem

·         Housing is needed across the Borough and all areas will need to accommodate development

·         Support Officers views on parking

·         Concerned about usage of back garden space to build housing – Deputy Mayor of London has spoken about not using such land.

·         Proposal is between two garages and  squashed on 3 sides, not happy about standard of accommodation and available light  for the future residents of the proposed property.

·         There is no off street parking so this will be a burden on the public realm

·         Long back gardens are a characteristic of Merton Park. This proposal would change the open and leafy characteristics of Merton Park

RESOLVED

The Committee voted to GRANT Planning Permission subject to conditions