Front ground-floor extension at 14 Foxhill, Northam, Bideford
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Torridge Plans Committee on 5 Mar 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought a single-storey front extension providing a living room, dining area and entrance porch.
“Site Description The property is a two storey, detached dwelling within Northam. It is also within the designated Conservation Area for Northam.”
“Proposed Development The application seeks full planning permission to erect a single storey extension on the principal elevation of the dwellinghouse to provide additional living accommodation (living room and dining area) and an entrance porch. The proposed extension measures 3.4 metres from the front of the property.”
Officer report
Earlier site history
Earlier permissions concerned houses, conversion of a stable block and residential development plots at Northam House.
“1/0958/1975 CONVERSION OF STABLE BLOCK TO TWO DWELLINGS, NORTHAM HOUSE NORTHAM PER 19.11.1975”
Officer report
Officers’ recommendation
Officers recommended approval because the extension’s scale, materials and appearance were appropriate, with adequate parking and garden space remaining.
“Policy DM06 of the Local Plan states that proposals will be expected to provide an appropriate scale and range of parking provision to meet anticipated needs. Policy DM04: 'Design Principles' has a criterion related to 'safe and appropriate highway access.”
“Conclusion As set out above, there is in principle support. There is adequate parking and garden area remaining, and the Local Planning Authority consider that the proposed scale, materials and appearance, including the fenestration, are considered appropriate or sympathetic to the area and other buildings, and the recommendation is to approve with the conditions below.”
Officer report
Consultation and representations
Northam Town Council recommended permission, South West Water accepted the proposed infiltration drainage, and no neighbour representations were received.
“Northam Town Council: Northam Town Council recommended the proposal be granted permission.”
“South West Water: Surface Water Services The applicant should demonstrate to your LPA that its prospective surface run-off will discharge as high up the hierarchy of drainage options as is reasonably practicable (with evidence that the Run-off Destination Hierarchy has been addressed, and reasoning as to why any preferred disposal route is not reasonably practicable):”
Officer report
Committee discussion
The Head of Planning confirmed that a bird box was an appropriate and proportionate condition for the extension.
“Councillor Bushby proposed to approve the application. This was seconded by Councillor Kenneally.”
“The Head of Planning confirmed that the requirement for a bird box is an appropriate and proportionate condition for the proposed extension.”
Minutes
The decision
The committee approved the application subject to the conditions outlined in the report.
“That the application is approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report.”
Minutes
Sources
- Torridge Plans Committee minutes, 5 March 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Torridge'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
- Committee
- Torridge Plans Committee
- Council
- Torridge
- Date
- Thursday 5 March 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Torridge committee decisions →
This committee's year
14 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 6 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.