Dorset Council (Purbeck area): Matt Annen has recently secured planning consent to sever an existing corner plot to erect a 3-bedroom, two-storey detached dwelling in the rear/side garden of a property in Swanage.
Whilst a previous historic application to erect a bungalow in the rear was refused in 2004, we put forward a strong argument explaining how in the last 20 years, the context of the locality has changed. The application site was located within the settlement boundary of Swanage and the proposed development therefore had to considered to be acceptable in principle subject to no harmful impact on character of the area, neighbouring amenity, highways, trees, flood risk, drainage and biodiversity net gain.
We explained how to the south of the application site, three detached dwellings have recently been developed on former garden plots and one of which was secured on appeal where the Inspector noted that the development would not have an unacceptably harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area and would not be harmful to the suburban character of the character type. The officer agreed that the same would be true of this site.
The application was approved at our first time of asking with no changes required and from submission to decision was just over 10 weeks, which really quite good for Dorset Council in the current climate.
wIf you have a large side or rear garden and have always wondered if there was any potential to fit a dwelling on the plot, then give us a call and we can let you know our thoughts on the likelihood of success.