Decision for Earley home plan for gym and office delayed

The gym and office is under construction by the owner of the house at the corner of Culver Lane and Eastcourt Avenue in Earley.

A separate garage and storage building has also been built on the property. 

Although the owner had permissions for both of these outbuildings, they have been built differently from what had been approved.

The gym and office proved most controversial, as objectors argued the office element of the project could be used as a bedroom and a separate home. 

These concerns were discussed at a Wokingham Borough Council planning meeting.

Tim Marsh, a member of the Whitegates Residents Association, said: "Development of this densely built treeless back garden by adding an exceptionally large outbuilding as tall as the neighbouring house degrades the suburban amenity of the property to that of an inner city dwelling, as well as degrading the amenity of neighbouring gardens."

Although plans for outbuildings have been approved at the address, it was noted that the plans being discussed were a resubmission of a project (planning reference 250666) that was refused in May. 

Stephen Newton (Liberal Democrats, Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates) said: “The applicant has persistently built something in contravention of the planning guidance and the approval given. I feel that this has disrespected the process, council officers and the neighbours.” 

Councillors on the committee sympathised with the arguments made. 

Councillor Martijn Andrea (Liberal Democrats,  Twyford, Ruscombe & Hurst) referred to a photo by a council officer showing the large outbuilding being taller than a neighbouring building in Eastcourt Avenue.

He said: "If I look at the photo, it would still appear overly dominant and visually intrusive, failing to respect the established character of the area.

"I still feel like it would conflict with principles of good design, particularly in relation to scale and massing and the relationship of the built form to its surroundings."

Meanwhile, cllr Wayne Smith (Conservative, Thames) echoed concerns that the larger outbuilding could be used as a home. 

The floorplan for the larger outbuilding for the corner house in Culver Lane, Earley. (Image: 1 Right Plan)

He said: "It is very dominant. It is it's it is in all intents and purposes another building that would be big enough for a house. You can't take that away. It is very big and it's dominant."

Cllr Smith also stated that councillors have been put in a difficult position, and therefore submitted a motion to defer the decision so a site visit could be conducted. 

The motion was seconded by cllr Stuart Munro (Conservative, Spencers Wood & Swallowfield), with the committee officially decided to defer for a site visit in September. 

The other plan, for a garage, proved less controversial. In that case, the owner applied to convert its use from storage into a garage for a vehicle. 

The block plan for the two outbuildings at the corner house in Culver Lane, Earley. (Image: 1 Right Plan)

Planning officer Tariq Bailey-Biggs recommended both plans be approved, arguing changes were 'modest' and conditions would restrict the larger building from being used as a separate home.

Councillors deferred a decision on the gym and office, but approved the garage at the planning meeting on August 13. 

You can view the application for the outbuilding using reference 251346 and the application for the garage using reference 251348 on the council's planning portal.