NAPC recently secured planning permission for a granny annexe in Romford, despite a previous refusal for an annexe on the same site which was submitted by an architect.
The applicant moved their mother in with them recently and were very keen to find a solution that would allow her to live independently but still have family close by to provide care and support when needed.
It was our job to provide a convincing argument and robust planning case to ensure we overcame the previous reasons for refusal, whilst still meeting the needs of the applicant.
The reasons for refusal related to the annexe’s functional separation from the main dwelling, large size and siting, which the Council believed to be overdevelopment of the garden.
Having assessed the previously submitted plans, we were able to advise our client on the best solutions to overcome the councils’ previous concerns.
We ensured that the annexe still provided for their needs whilst making recommendations to amend the scheme to make it more acceptable.
We suggested the overall floor area be reduced slightly, but the height of the annexe increased to allow for a more spacious feel. The general siting remained the same (which was a previous concern for the Council) and we put forward a good case with regard to their concerns over functional separation.
We supported the application with a robust planning statement which referenced a number of appeal decisions and case law and set out our arguments in a clear and concise way.
Our convincing statement and pro-active approach with the Case Officer resulted in the council commenting how good our submission was and that the arguments NAPC put forward alleviated any previous concerns.
Our clients are now going through the build process and on track to be completed for the summer – a happy client and a happy team!
If you have had a previous granny annexe or garden room refused on your site and are looking for a way forward, please speak to one of our experts at NAPC and we can assess any reasons for refusal and advise on the best solution.
