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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) Decisions >> Flenley & Anor, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham [2008] EWHC 366 (Admin) (11 February 2008) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2008/366.html Cite as: [2008] JPL 1300, [2008] EWHC 366 (Admin) |
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QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
Strand London WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
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THE QUEEN ON THE APPLICATION OF WILLIAM FLENLEY (1) | ||
HANNAH KETURAH FLENLEY (2) | Claimants | |
v | ||
THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM | Defendant |
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Mr R Ground (instructed by Legal Services Division, London Borough of Hammersmith) appeared on behalf of the Defendant
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Crown Copyright ©
Introduction
Factual Background
"The council will require a high standard of design in all extensions and alterations to existing buildings. These should be compatible with the scale and character of existing development, its neighbours and its setting. In most cases, these will be subservient to the original building. In considering applications the council will take into account the following:
(i) scale, form, height and mass
(ii) proportion
(iii) vertical and horizontal emphasis
(iv) relationship of solid to void
(v) materials
(vi) relationship to existing building, spaces between buildings, and gardens, and
(vii) good neighbourliness."
"4.81 The design of extensions or alterations to buildings is of considerable importance. Extensions and alterations can change the character of individual buildings and that of an area as a whole. This is of particular concern in terraces of uniform appearance. The council recognises the changing needs and requirements of occupiers, but seeks to ensure that extensions and alterations, even the most minor ones, do not affect the inherent qualities of existing properties.
4.82 Extensions should never dominate the parent building in bulk, scale, materials or design. Extensions should comprise no more than half the width of the rear of the property and should not rise higher than one storey beneath the original eaves or parapet line. Where a distinct rhythm of rear extensions exists any new buildings should follow the existing scale and character. With respect to local context, it will be essential that the design of the proposed extensions recognises and safeguards the amenities of the neighbouring properties, and other properties most directly affected by the proposal (see also standards S3, S6, S9, S10, S12 and S13).
"The main planning considerations in this case are the acceptability of the proposed extensions in terms of visual amenity including the impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area and the impact of the proposals on the residential amenities of adjoining properties, having regard to the policies and standards of the Unitary Development Plan (UDP).
Policy EN2 of the UDP states that development within conservation areas will only be permitted if the character and appearance of the conservation area is preserved or enhanced. Particular regard will be given in the design of new developments to details such as the scale, massing, bulk, height, materials, colour, vertical and horizontal emphasis and the relationship to adjoining buildings. Policy EN8B states that extensions and alterations should be compatible with the scale and character of existing development, its neighbours and setting.
The scale and bulk of the extensions would not overly dominate the parent building. The design of the proposed two storey extension includes the pitched hipped roof, the set-ins from the boundaries with nos 28 and 32, the design of the fenestration and the use of secondhand stock brick to facing materials ensures that the proposal fits in with the existing building and surroundings and protects the character of the Conservation Area. The proposed dormer window is to be set within the roof slope of the main roof and will be clad in slate to match the existing roof. As such it will be in[sic] preserve the character of the conservation area. The proposal is therefore considered to comply with policies EN2 and EN8."
"The proposal will therefore comply with policies EN2, EN8 and EN8B of the UDP".
I should mention that policy EN2 deals with development in Conversation Areas. Policy EN8 deals with design of new developments and policy EN8B deals with the design of extensions.
"The depth of the extension at 6.6m from the original rear wall of the property exceeds the normally permitted depth in standard S63 of the UDP. However, the proposal would meet the other two criteria of the standard in that it would not be within 4 metres of the rear boundary or cover more than half the rear garden area. Given the size of the application site's garden and the proportion of it that will remain, and the pattern of development in the adjoining properties, officers are satisfied that the proposals will not result in an over development of the property or impact on the sense of openness to the rear. There are extensions of varying heights and depths in this locality, such that there is no real consistency in form. The current proposal would not be incompatible with the pattern of some existing residential development which has occurred at Rylett Road identified by officers."
"It is considered that the proposal would not have a significant effect on the residential amenity of adjoining occupiers and would be of an acceptable visual appearance. The proposal would preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area. In this respect the proposal complies with Policies EN2 and EN8B and Standard S6 of the Hammersmith and Fulham Unitary Development Plan 2003 as amended by the Direction under Paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 8 to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 dated 27 September 2007."
"The Council's Planning Officer's Notes say that the proposal will comply with policy EN8B of the UDP but they do not explain why, bearing in mind (a) para 4.82 of the justification for that policy states that extensions should comprise no more than half the width of the rear of the property 'and should not rise higher than one storey beneath the original main eaves or parapet...' but (b) this proposal does both. If for some reason the Council considered that its own justification was inapplicable in this case there ought to have been an explanation of this in the Planning Officer's Notes dated 7 November 2007 but there is none. It seems that the Council simply failed to apply its own justification."
"(1) As recognised in the pre-action letter, the passages quoted are not from the UDP policy but from the text which is supplementary to that policy.
(2) The officer's report clearly sets out that in Mr Kolaszewksi's view the proposed [sic] is acceptable in terms of policy EN8B and the reasons for reaching that view.
(3) In any event, in terms of the supplementary text, in addition to those words quoted in the pre-action letter there appears the following: 'Where a distinct rhythm of rear extensions exists any new proposals should follow the existing scale and character."
It is clearly a material consideration that there is a particular style of extension already present locally. This is the case on this side of Rylett Road where a number of extensions exist, including the one at number 28 Rylett Road, which are both more than half the width and higher than one storey beneath the original eaves of the parent property. The approved extension at number 30 follows the existing scale and character of extensions in the immediate area, including the one at number 28 Rylett Road."
Submissions
"It is well established that the court should exercise extreme caution before accepting reasons for a decision which were not articulated at the time of the decision but were only expressed later, in particular after the commencement of proceedings: (see, for example, Nash v Chelsea College of Art and Design (2001) EWHC Admin 538 at paragraph 34 per Stanley Burnton J)."
"What the Secretary of State must do is to state his reasons in sufficient detail to enable the reader to know what conclusion he has reached on the 'principle important controversial issues'. To require him to refer to every material consideration, however insignificant, and to deal with every argument, however peripheral, would be to impose an unjustifiable burden."
Conclusions
"If regard is to be had to the development plan for the purpose of any determination to be made under the Planning Acts the determination must be made in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise."
Overall Conclusion