Accessible home extensions at 134 Shephall View, Stevenage

The site and its setting

The site is a Council-owned semi-detached dwelling surrounded by residential properties, with a garage and driveway at the front.

“SITE DESCRIPTION 1.1 The application site comprises a semi-detached dwelling on the western side of Shephall View close to its southern termination point. The property is bounded by residential dwellings to the north, south, and west, whilst to the east is the highway with residential dwellings beyond.”

“The property is attached to No.132 to the north whilst its detached single garage is attached to the single garage of No.136 to the south. There is a driveway to the front of the garage.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

An earlier application for a rear extension, front surfacing and disability-related window changes was permitted in October 2025.

“RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY 2.1 25/00653/FPH Single storey rear extension, levelling and hard surfacing of front curtilage, and fenestration alterations for disability compliance 14.10.2025 PER”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers considered the design, neighbouring amenity, parking and biodiversity matters acceptable and recommended permission subject to conditions.

“Biodiversity Net Gain 7.5.1 Paragraph 13 of Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 sets out that every planning permission granted for the development of land in England shall be deemed to have been granted subject to the ‘biodiversity gain condition’ requiring development to achieve a net gain of 10% of biodiversity value.”

“RECOMMENDATIONS 9.1 That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the conditions set out below and delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and Regulation in consultation with the Chair of the Planning and Development Committee, to amend or add to the conditions subject to which the permission would be granted, where such amendments or additions would satisfy the relevant national policy tests and would most effectively deliver the development which the…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The senior planning officer presented the application and explained that it concerned accessible accommodation for a disabled family.

What members discussed

Members discussed accessible housing, wheelchair space, design guidance, possible future HMO use, equality considerations and parking pressures.

“Questions were raised regarding the consideration for the property to be exempt from the Right to Buy scheme to protect it as an accessible housing asset for future disabled households. Officers explained that this was outside the remit of the Planning Committee, and would be a matter for housing and legal services. It was agreed that the matter could be discussed outside the meeting to consider whether any further action could be taken.”

“Questions were also raised about the change in the Council's design guidance, specifically the extension being stepped forward, and whether this approach would ordinarily be permitted. Officers explained that each application was considered on its individual merits. In this case, the additional footprint was considered necessary to provide the space required for a wheelchair-accessible dwelling to meet Building Regulation requirements.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted planning permission subject to the listed conditions and delegated authority concerning possible condition changes.

“It was RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED subject to the conditions set out below and delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and Regulation in consultation with the Chair of the Planning and Development Committee, to amend or add to the conditions subject to which the permission would be granted, where such amendments or additions would satisfy the relevant national policy tests and would most effectively deliver the development which the…”

“3 The external materials used in the development to which this permission relates shall be those detailed on the approved plans and in the accompanying planning submission documents unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.”

Minutes