AN “UNACCEPTABLY small” granny annex and a wooden garden gazebo could soon be knocked down, due to decisions made by council planners.

Planners refused seven planning permission applications in March, for being too large, too small, too close to neighbours’ properties, and building on green open space.

Here’s our round-up of interesting refusals made by Reading Borough Council this month.

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Two-storey extension blocking the light

Plans to build a two-storey extension were refused on a mid-terrace house on Tofrek Terrace, behind the barracks on the Oxford Road. Neighbours were concerned the extension would block sunlight going into their kitchen and bathroom.

Neighbours told the council they feared the extension would let the owners turn the building into a shared house; and they also pointed out it would take up half of the back garden.

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Wooden gazebo in the garden

A wooden gazebo in a back garden may have to be taken down after retrospective planning permission was refused. The gazebo was put up in the garden of a semi-detached house on Links Drive, off Norcot Road in Tilehurst.

The gazebo backs onto the neighbour’s fence, who have complained that it is too big. Connie Davis, a council planner, said: “The applicant was advised that the enforcement team would be back in touch to discuss options moving forward.”

‘Unacceptably small’ granny annex

A newly built granny annex could soon be knocked down after council planners decided it was “unacceptably small”. Retrospective planning permission was refused for the granny annex in a back garden of a house on Shaw Road, near Coley Park.

Planners said the annex was so small it would “harm the wellbeing” of anyone who lived in it, and was too small to conform with national standards on space.

Losing green open space

Developers wanted to build six three-bedroom houses on green open space in Tilehurst. The plot, on Colliers Way, is next to Thorpe House.

Many neighbours had concerns and a petition of people living in the area objecting to the plans received 117 signatures.

Claire Whalley, a neighbour, wrote to the council objecting to the plans. She said: “There is the issue of green space. Due to its location it should be left as it is; developing this green area with all the built-up areas around it would benefit no one.”