Issue - meetings

Construction of part single, part two storey front and side extension, single storey rear extension, installation of windows to side elevation at 63 Watford Road, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth.

Recommendation: that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

The application was for construction of a part single, part two storey front and side extension, single storey rear extension, and installation of windows to side elevation at 63 Watford Road, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth.

There was no officer update.

Parish Councillor Guy Parks of Croxley Green Parish Council spoke against the application.

Points raised by the speaker included: the old crossover had not been removed and was still in use in addition to the new crossover.  Therefore, there had been a change to parking arrangements which was not reflected in the application; by bringing the extension right up to, or within 300m of, the boundary with a new blank elevation with only one upper window to a habitable room, the wide aspect and original harmonious street scene of Dickinson Square would be lost; the setback and wide aspect should be retained and the house should continue to have windows facing Dickinson Square; and extensions to the house could be carried out in other less aesthetically damaging ways further back from the pavement.

Committee Members asked questions about the details of the application which were responded to by officers.  The Committee’s discussions included:

·      In response to the comment made by the speaker about the status of the original crossover, a Committee Member commented that the Highways Authority had raised the dropped kerb and therefore it had potentially been included in the plans in error.  The Planning Officer clarified that the acceptability of the scheme was not dependent on the removal or closing up of the dropped kerb.

·      It was noted that the Conservation Officer had no objection to the proposal.

Councillor Morris moved, and Councillor Whately-Smith seconded, that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.  On being put to the vote this was carried, the voting being 6 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstentions.

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted subject to conditions.