BCP Council (Bournemouth): A few weeks back Matt secured full planning permission to sever the rear garden of an existing dwelling in Moordown in Bournemouth and erect a 2 bedroom backland bungalow with associated access, parking and garden areas. The approved development was expertly designed by ARC Architecture for mutual clients; Edgewater Homes.
Whilst in isolation this could be viewed a “garden grabbing” (gosh, haven’t heard that term in a while) the principle of infill development to the rears of frontage houses in this location had already been well established with multiple plots to the north having been built out over the past 10 years.
Within our supporting Design and Access Statement we set out a firm justification for the acceptability of the scheme explaining how because of the aforementioned context the scheme would not have an unacceptably harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area.
The application was well handled by the LPA’s planning officer with good dialogue and we were even able to arrange an on site meet to discuss the merits of the scheme. This meant that the application was approved at the first time of asking with no changes required and from submission to decision was around 15 weeks.
Fortunately this scheme was approved just in time, narrowly avoiding the current pause that BCP Council have in place for approving applications which deliver additional dwellings due to the delivery mechnanism for the New Forest SAMMS contribution not yet being agreed with Natural England. We are told this embargo on new development is likely to last 3 months, but from our experience, it could well be longer.
If 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.