®Planning appeal decision
20 Ernle Road, London, SW20 0HH
Planning appeal 3276028 at 20 Ernle Road, London, SW20 0HH (London Borough of Merton) was dismissed on 18 October 2021 by Inspector Fitzsimon D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the host dwelling and the street scene and Conservation Area within which it sits.
Roof mounted photovoltaic solar panels
- Authority
- London Borough of Merton
- Appeal type
- householder · Householder (HAS)
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- utilities-energy · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Fitzsimon D
- Postcode
- SW20 0HJ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the host dwelling and the street scene and Conservation Area within which it sits
What decided it
The adverse visual impact on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, combined with the absence of compelling technical evidence that front-facing solar panels were the only viable option, outweighed the environmental benefits of renewable energy generation.
The environmental benefits of renewable energy production were weighed against the less than substantial harm to the Conservation Area, with the balance tipping against the development because good design is a key aspect of sustainable development and the installation did not constitute good design in this context.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- London Plan Policy HC1London Plan Policy SI1London Plan Policy SI2London Plan Policy SI3Merton Core Planning Strategy Strategic Objective Policy 1Merton Core Planning Strategy Policy CS14Merton Core Planning Strategy Policy CS15Merton Sites and Policies Plan 2014 Policy DM2Merton Sites and Policies Plan 2014 Policy DM3Merton Sites and Policies Plan 2014 Policy DM4
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in London Borough of Merton
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021
- Dismissed23 October 2026600671771 Leamington Avenue, Morden, SM4 4DQ
- Dismissed21 October 2026600895718, West Place, London, SW19 4UH
- Notice upheld21 September 2026336444331 Glebe Avenue, Mitcham, CR4 3DZ
- Allowed7 August 2026600754311B Calonne Road, Merton, Wimbledon, SW19 8HH
- Dismissed17 July 2026600695535 Kingston Road, London, SW19 1JW
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.