Two homes into one at Portway Buckingham Road, Hardwick
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Buckinghamshire Central & North Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee on 22 Apr 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought to join two houses into one dwelling and add side, rear, infill, roof and front extensions.
“Report to Buckinghamshire Council – North Area Planning Committee Application Number: PL/25/5263/FA Proposal: Proposed first floor side extension, double storey infill extension between dwellings, double storey rear extension, roof extension over existing double storey side structure, front bay window and conversion of two houses into single dwelling Site location: Portway, Buckingham Road, Hardwick, Buckinghamshire, HP22 4EF Applicant: [the applicant]: Anna Souter…”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The site contains two dwellings in open countryside north of Hardwick, within a valued landscape and flood zone 1.
“Description of Proposed Development 2.1 The application site is located in the open countryside to the north of the village of Hardwick and is accessed via Buckingham Road (A413). The application site is within the Quainton-Wing Hills Area of Attractive Landscape, a Great Crested Newt green impact risk zone, and flood zone 1.”
Officer report
Earlier planning history
The site has permissions for an independent annexe, extensions and other works, while some earlier storage and residential proposals were refused.
“Relevant Planning History 82/01188/AV – Erection of double garage – Approved (16 September 1982) 87/00107/APP – Single storey front extension – Approved (23 February 1987) 98/01643/APP – Extension and conversion of garage to granny annexe – Approved (15 January 1999) 99/01117/APP – All weather riding surface (30m x 20m) – Approved (13 July 1999) 04/00375/APP – Change of use of buildings and land from residential to storage and distribution - Retrospective – Refused (28…”
“08/02349/APP – Use of existing residential annexe as separate unit of accommodation – Refused (20 November 2008), Appeal dismissed 17/03286/APP – Conversion of outbuilding to a new independent dwelling – Approved (5 June 2019)”
Officer report
Who spoke
An objector spoke, and representatives of the agent and applicant addressed the committee.
The committee’s view
The committee gave significant weight to consolidating existing residential buildings and improving their appearance, and limited weight to the loss of one dwelling.
“That application PL/25/5263/FA be approved, because the committee attached significant weight to the fact that the development largely consolidated and extended existing residential buildings already occupying the site, including an existing annex in lawful residential use, and would materially improve the visual appearance of the property through the removal of incongruous flat-roofed elements and the introduction of a more coherent and sympathetic roof form.”
Minutes
The members' reasons
“The Committee further concluded that the conversion of two existing dwellings into a single dwelling in this specific circumstance did not constitute a substantive loss of housing supply, given that occupation would remain by the same household, and therefore afforded this consideration limited weight in the planning balance.”
Minutes
Source: the council's minutes, quoted word for word.
Councillors at the meeting
- Caroline CornellConservative
- Kathryn GibbonConservative
- Phil GommDeclared an interestConservative
- Andy HuxleyConservative
- Frank MahonConservative
- Llew MongerLib Dem
- Chris PollDeclared an interest and left for this itemConservative
- Gregory SmithGreen
- Robin StuchburyIndependent
- Julie WardConservative
- Clive HarrissSubstitute for P Fealey; Declared an interestConservative
- Niknam HussainSubstitute for R Khan; Declared an interestLib Dem
Proposed by Councillor Robin Stuchbury, seconded by Councillor Clive Harriss.
Apologies Patrick Fealey Conservative, Raj Khan Lib Dem
Source: Plota analysis of the council's minutes; parties from the council's list of councillors.
Sources
- Buckinghamshire Central & North Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee minutes, 22 April 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Buckinghamshire's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Buckinghamshire
- Date
- Wednesday 22 April 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended refusal
- Committee decided
- Approved, against officer advice
- Councillors
- 11Conservative 7Lib Dem 2Green 1Independent 1Show councillors
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Buckinghamshire committee decisions →
This committee's year
8 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 4 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.