Changes to a home in Earley that looks radically different from how it used to have narrowly received a stamp of approval.
The home in Sutcliffe Avenue, has undergone significant external changes from how it used to look a year and five months ago.
In August 2021, the semi-detached house looked almost identical to the one it is attached to.
Yet photos from a site visit on August 19, 2022, show that it has had tiling replaced, a side extension constructed and a new front to back dormer built onto it.
Originally a four bedroom home, the dormer that has been built provides space for a double bedroom and shower toilet.
However the owners Mr and Mrs Khangura, got builders to begin work on the dormer without receiving approval from the planning authority, Wokingham Borough Council.
An attempt to confirm the presence of the dormer by submitting a planning application was rejected by the council’s planning department in September 2022 after it was judged to be ‘out of keeping’ with the existing house.
The couple launched a separate bid to confirm the legality of the dormer, which was decided on by the council’s planning committee.
Heather Paxton who spoke on their behalf, said: “When construction began my client, believing that the further addition of a dormer window was covered under permitted development actually went ahead and constructed the dormer.
“My client has been fully compliant throughout the process but I would note it drew out the construction time by six months with all the delays.”
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She added the dormer design had been ‘rectified’ since the refusal last year.
But the plan received opposition from ward councillors.
Councillor Mike Smith (Liberal Democrats, Maiden Erlegh) argued it did not comply with the council’s design guidance, calling it “unlawfully built.”
Meanwhile, cllr Norman Jorgensen (Conservative, Maiden Erlegh), said: “It is still out of character with the area.
“It is a very, very dominant site. It overlooks a large number of properties further down this street.
“It is overbearing for all the residents round about. I really don’t think it’s the sort of thing we should be approving. It really looks pretty awful, to be blunt.”
However, council planning officer Kieran Neumann recommended it for approval, stating that the plan complied with the council’s overlooking rules to maintain at least 15 metres from the neighbouring property in Meadow Road.
He also stated that the design is in keeping with nine other flat roof dormers in the area.
The dormer was approved by the planning committee on Wednesday, January 11.
You can view the application by typing reference 222963 into Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.
Mr and Mrs Khangura won approval for extensions and conversion of the roof to the house into habitable accommodation in October 2020.
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