®Planning appeal decision
52 Sotheron Road, Watford, Herts, WD17 2QA
Planning appeal 3279953 at 52 Sotheron Road, Watford, Herts, WD17 2QA (Watford Borough Council) was dismissed on 9 December 2021 by Inspector Callister V, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effects of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the host property, local area and the Estcourt Conservation Area.
a single storey, part two storey rear extension, conversion of loft space with rear dormer and Velux window
- Authority
- Watford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- householder · Householder (HAS)
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Callister V
- Postcode
- WD17 2QA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effects of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the host property, local area and the Estcourt Conservation Area
- the effects of the proposed development on the living conditions of neighbouring residential occupiers at 54 Sotheron Road
What decided it
The collective scale of the proposed rear extensions would dominate the host dwelling and harm the character and appearance of the conservation area, and the ground floor extension would cause significant overbearing harm to neighbouring living conditions, outweighing the private benefits to the appellant.
The private benefits of a larger property with improved amenity for the occupiers were outweighed by considerable importance and weight given to the effect on the significance of the conservation area and significant weight given to the effect on the local area and living conditions of neighbouring occupiers.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SS1Policy UD1Watford Local Plan Part 1 Core Strategy 2006-31 (2013)Watford Residential Design Guide 2014 (as amended 2016) Paragraphs 8.5.1 a), b) and c)
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 12Paragraph 16Paragraph 130
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
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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.