A proposal for a house extension has left residents in a quiet hamlet on the outskirts of Solihull in a major dispute. Residents asked Solihull Council's planning committee to 'stand up for them' before councillors decided to grant an applicant their wish to build the extension at their home in Bonneville Close, Millisons Wood, close to Coventry.
Home owner Lilian McGrath applied for permission for the single storey rear extension to the double garage at the property in March. However, due to six objections from locals submitted during a public consultation, the decision was called in to the authority's latest planning committee meeting.
In the public speaking section, objector Richard Pittock told councillors: 'I'm speaking on behalf of residents of Bonneville Close. The character of our quiet family cul-de-sac is being eroded by the commercial letting at this site. While the application is framed as a minor domestic extension it is not - it is a trojan horse. It seeks to legitimise the enabling works for the next stage of an unpermitted, commercial development that is degrading our residential amenity. The address houses an active, heavily advertised letting business. We urge the committee to stand up for local residents.'
Responding, applicant Lilian McGrath said: 'My dwelling is a family home first and foremost where I live with two of my sons. Yes I happily admit I use two of my six bedrooms for letting purposes.' She stressed the extension was to turn the garage into a 'hobby room' for her upholstery workshop, and said the extension would have 'no visual impact on the street'. 'It's been (recommended by officers) for approval - it's a matter for planning, not a popularity contest,' the applicant added.
Council planning officer Lawrence Osborne told the committee the commercial side had been investigated by officers. 'They didn't find any breaches,' he said. 'As far as we are aware the property is used for its correct purposes.'
Chairman of the committee, Councillor Bob Grinsell, said: 'It is a large property, the extension is not massive, it's hidden. But I recognise the concerns, we have to look at both sides of the coin.' He queried if permitted development rights could be removed preventing further extension, but the planning officer then revealed there were no planning development rights already at the home. 'That's interesting, so everything must come through planning,' the chairman said. 'If there was further growth of the property we would have to know about it.'
Officer Kim Allen stressed a condition had already been added that the extension must only be used for an ancillary purpose (such as a hobby). 'If the applicant was to veer away from that - for example if the garage was to be let out - that is in breach of the condition and would provide an enforcement route for the council,' the officer said.
When the chairman moved to the vote, the committee voted unanimously to approve subject to conditions at the meeting held on May 27.
