A homeowner who built extensions without asking the council for permission has had a third attempt to avoid removing the whole construction rejected.
The retrospective plan for a rear single storey extension at the property at 30 Addison Road, near Caversham Road, described by officers as “excessive” in depth and design, was refused by the council’s planning committee last Wednesday.
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Officers called the roof a “contrived arrangement” and highlighted the impact on the neighbour, adding that issues raised in previously rejected applications had not been addressed.
A second enforcement notice will now be issues to remove the extensions after a first notice was rejected on technical grounds.
Councillor Karen Rowland, lead member for Heritage at Reading Borough Council (RBC), added: “These are characterful houses that deserve to be respected.
“This were not respectful. You can clearly see it was out of line.”
Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Planning, added: “I think the officer sets out a persuasive reason to refuse the application.
“The inspector’s decision of last year reinforces the views that the planning officers had about the original application which has not been greatly changed.”
Cllr Ricky Duveen, a Lib Dem councillor, said the effect on the neighbour is “serious”.
The site’s complicated history
After the owner built the rear extension and canopy without getting permission, the council suggested it was considering taking enforcement action.
To avoid having to undo the work already undertaken, the developer applied for retrospective planning permission, but this was rejected.
The homeowner then removed the canopy (as shown in the photo below) and applied again for retrospective planning permission, with this aspect removed. This was also rejected by the council.
RBC then took enforcement action to remedy the harm, asking the homeowner to remove the extensions or reduce them significantly, but the homeowner appealed.
But a government planning inspector overruled the council’s enforcement notice for technical reasons, leaving the council unsure how to proceed.
In the latest, third effort to get retrospective planning permission, the homeowner included alterations to the roof to overcome issues raised by officers and planning inspectors, but the committee stayed firm and refused to budge.
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The inspector said the council’s request to “remove the development entirely or reduce it so that the development qualified as permitted development” was not precise enough.
Cllr Page said it was “disappointing to know the enforcement notice was quashed for technical reasons” and questioned why the mistake was made.
Planning manager Julie Williams said officers had been seeking legal advice on what to do next and will now reissue an enforcement notice to the homeowner to remove the extensions entirely.
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