Two flats at Land Adjacent To 25 Lea Vale, Crayford, Dartford

“SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: Demolition of 2 x existing garages for erection of two storey building comprising of two residential units with refuse storage to rear and parking to front.”

“The application site is located on the eastern side of Lea Vale. The site is occupied by a two-storey detached maisonette and two garages on the end of a garage block. The existing building is set back from the front of the application site and benefits from a modest front garden area. The property benefits from generous side and rear garden areas which wrap around the property and garages.”

“The northern end of Lea Vale is uniform in character, there are a group of post war, two storey buildings providing maisonette dwellings. The group, which the existing property at the site is a part of, are brick built with shallow pitched gable ended roofs, and brown/red hanging tiles to their front elevations. The site is not included within a Conservation Area and there are no listed buildings impacted by the development of the site.”

“The proposed introduction of backland development would be out of character in this area of established form and established building plots. The proposal will undermine the character and appearance of the area and would set a precedent of this type of harmful development.”

“The development is considered unacceptable in the interest of residential amenity for neighbouring residents. More particularly, the height, massing and close proximity to neighbouring properties, combine to have an unacceptable impact upon outlook, light and sense of enclosure, loss of light to No’s 21/23 and 25/27 Lea Vale, to the detriment of its occupiers. The proposal fails to comply with Core Strategy CS01, UDP Policy ENV39 Bexley's Design for Living SPD (2006). 5.”

“Grant planning permission subject to conditions.”

“The works proposed would not have a detrimental impact on the character of the area and would not unduly impact the amenity of neighbouring occupiers. The proposal would not have an adverse impact on parking.”

“There is a strong form of grain and layout of the area, it is defined by rows of semi- detached maisonettes on established building lines with extending plots. The previously application under 20/00690/FUL was refused due to being out of character in this area of established form and established building plots and was found to undermine the character and appearance of the area, would incorporate alien and discordant features and would set a precedent of harmful development.”

“Policy DP11 of the Bexley Plan states that new dwellings should provide sufficient usable on-site external amenity space and appropriate play spaces for children relative to the proposed scale of development. The plans detail how the private amenity spaces would be separated, with the existing garden subdivided to provide private outdoor amenity space for the properties. Given the size of the houses, the proposed provision of outdoor amenity space is considered acceptable.”

“Highways officers raise no objections subject to conditions, based upon the snap-shot overnight car parking surveys. (See Appendix A for further comments).”

“No objections subject to condition (See Appendix A for further comments)”

“The residents of the adjoining properties were notified of the proposed development. 6 objections have been received as well as 2 letters of support, these comments are summarised below:”

“Impact on the street scene/character of the area ➢ Overdevelopment of the site ➢ Impact on privacy ➢ Impact on light ➢ Loss of open space ➢ Impact from construction (noise and dust) ➢ Impact on parking ➢ Impact on road safety…”

“The Committee discussed the application and noted the report with the Addendum item for this application.”

“The Committee requested condition 6 was amended to ensure that the flats were not occupied until the land set out for parking had been laid out.”

“Following their discussion, the Committee RESOLVED on a vote of 10/0 to approve the application in accordance with the recommendation as set out in the report before them, as amended by the Addendum and the amendment to condition 6.”