Garden room outbuilding at 94A Clarence Road, St Albans

The site

The site is a two-storey semi-detached house with habitable roofspace in a residential area, within the conservation area, with two timber sheds at the rear.

“No. 94a Clarence Road is a two-storey semi-detached dwellinghouse with habitable roofspace located in a predominantly residential area of St Albans. The dwellinghouse primarily consists of brick and pebbledash walls, a tiled roof, and white timber fenestration. The property is located within the St Albans Conservation Area. The rear of the garden as existing has two timber sheds.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions covered a rear extension, garage conversion and an outbuilding at a neighbouring property.

“5/2022/1442 - Single storey rear extension with roof lights and alterations to fenestration - Conditional Permission granted 28/07/2022”

“5/2007/0008 - Conversion of garage into habitable room and alterations to openings - Conditional Permission granted 06/03/2007”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The trees consultation found the trees unprotected and the proposal acceptable with arboricultural safeguards, while environmental officers sought noise controls for the air-conditioning unit.

“Therefore, as long as the recommendations detailed in the arboricultural report are conditioned should planning permission be approved, then in terms of trees the proposal is acceptable.”

“Noise from plant & equipment Before the use commences a noise assessment should be carried out to establish whether the air source heat pumps that are to be installed or operated in connection with carrying out this permission are likely to give rise to complaints at any adjoining or nearby noise sensitive premises.”

Officer report

What people said

Six objections and two supporting representations were received, with concerns about scale, amenity, trees, privacy, noise, wildlife, plans and future residential use.

“At the time of writing this report, 6 objections have been received and 2 in support (Rebuttals from the applicant)”

“The representations raise some or all of the following issues: - Scale, height, and design not inkeeping with the surrounding area - Overbearing impact, sense of enclosure and loss of outlook due to proximity of dwellings - Loss of neighbour amenity - Damage to trees - Loss of privacy - Loss of light - Future use of the building as a quasi-habitable dwelling - Apparent inconsistencies within the plans - Loss of wildlife - Needs confirmation on whether the trees are…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A speaker spoke against the application and another speaker spoke in favour.

Main conditions

The permission requires approved plans, matching external materials, a noise assessment before installing the air-conditioning unit and compliance with the arboricultural assessment.

“The external surfaces of the development hereby permitted shall be constructed only of materials, the type and colour of which match exactly those of the existing building, unless otherwise stated on the approved plans or application form.”

“Prior to the installation of the air conditioning unit, a noise assessment shall be undertaken, submitted to, and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The noise assessment shall be carried out to establish whether the air conditioning unit that is to be installed or operated in connection with carrying out this permission is likely to give rise to complaints at any adjoining or nearby noise sensitive premises.”

Minutes