Private garden extension at 12 Woolerton Drive, Windy Nook

What was proposed

The application sought to change land beside 12 Woolerton Drive into a private garden enclosed by a one-metre timber fence.

“Planning permission is sought for the change of use of land adjoining No.12 Woolerton Drive to be used as a private garden. To facilitate the change of use to private garden, it is proposed the land would be enclosed with a 1m high timber fence on all three sides.”

Officer report

The site

The site was an enclosed parcel of Council-maintained open space at a junction, with a mature tree and a role as an estate entrance feature.

“At present, the parcel of open space has been enclosed with fencing on all three sides. Within the enclosure, on the open space is a mature tree.”

“The parcel of open land is located at the junction of Bywell Gardens/Garvey Villas and Woolerton Drive and serves as an entrance feature to the housing at Woolerton Drive. The land is maintained by the Council.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended refusal because the proposal would harm visual amenity and the public realm, affect a tree, and lack biodiversity information.

“The proposal has been assessed against both relevant national and local planning policies. The proposed development is considered to be unacceptable on visual amenity impact grounds and also due to a lack of clarity on Biodiversity Net Gain.”

“The proposed loss of an area of open space to form an extended private garden would be incompatible with the established character of the area, which relies on such spaces as an integral and positive feature of the estate.”

Officer report

Design and trees

Officers considered the open space an important designed feature and found that its loss would conflict with local character and risk harm to the tree.

“The area of open space is a detailed design feature of the estate and serves as a welcoming feature to the estate. The application site along with the parcel on the other side of the footpath and the parcel on the opposite side of Woolerton Drive form a parcel of open space that provides a sense of openness within this residential area.”

“It is considered the loss of the open space for an extended private garden in this location would fail to be compatible with the local character of the area despite the reduction in the extent of the enclosure and the reduction in height of the fencing. It is still considered the proposal would detract from the public realm.”

Officer report

What people said

Eighty-eight representations supported the proposal, while 35 objected over public enjoyment, open space, appearance, visibility, highways and the tree.

“Applicant has improved the land in a way that benefits the local environment • It would not result in the loss of meaningful or valued public open space • Proposal would tidy up the application site. Area was previously used for fly tipping and anti social behaviour • Change of use is modest and fits in with the surrounding area. • Improvement to the street scene. • No Impact of residential amenity. • Good use of the land…”

“Impact on public enjoyment • Negative impact on the neighbourhood • The space has historically been used by residents • Overbearing impact • Impact on visibility for cars • Transport and highway safety concerns • Impact on the tree at the site • Out of character with the street scene • An eye sore • Loss of public green space • Spoils the aesthetic look to the entrance to the estate…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant spoke in favour of the application, and the committee received an update report on 14 July 2026.

The committee’s decision

The committee refused planning permission because the garden would harm the area’s character, visual amenity, public realm and tree, with insufficient biodiversity information.

“1 The proposed loss of an area of open space to form an extended private garden would be incompatible with the established character of the area, which relies on such spaces as an integral and positive feature of the estate.”

“2 The application fails to provide sufficient information to demonstrate compliance with the statutory requirement for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). In particular, no BNG Assessment and Report along with a Statutory Biodiversity Metric Calculation Tool has been submitted.”

Minutes