Entrance porch and fence at Alvin House 9 South End, Hartlepool

What was proposed

The application sought retrospective permission for a front entrance porch and a fence enclosing the front garden.

“The application seeks retrospective planning permission for the erection of a front entrance porch and the erection of a fence to enclose the front garden.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is an end-terrace two-storey dwelling in a conservation area, beside Grade II listed buildings and near flats and open space.

“The application site relates to an end of terrace, two storey dwelling within the Seaton Conservation Area. The site features amenity space to the front, and benefits from off-street parking (located beyond the enclosed front garden). A number of trees are present to the front of the site adjacent to the car parking area.”

“The host property adjoins no. South End to the side (north), which forms part of a small terrace (No’s 5 to 8, inclusive) that are Grade II Listed Buildings, while flats 9 to 20 Regal Close are to the rear (west). To the side (south), the site is bounded by a highway and a parcel of open space with flats no. 1 to 8 (inclusive) Regal Close beyond.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier permissions covered a change to bed and breakfast accommodation and later its change to a dwellinghouse.

“HFUL/1990/0241 - Change of use to bed and breakfast accommodation and alterations and erection of a rear kitchen and dining room extension with bedrooms over – Approved 03/08/1990.”

“HFUL/2003/0520 - Change of use from Guest House to dwellinghouse – Approved 27/08/2003.”

Officer report

What officers advised

Officers recommended refusal because the porch’s design, materials, scale and siting harmed the dwelling, conservation area and adjoining listed building setting.

“It is considered that the erected front porch to the host property represents an unsympathetic and visually intrusive form of development, to the detriment of the character and appearance of the host dwelling and the surrounding Conservation Area, and to the setting of the adjoining listed building. It is further considered that there is no information to indicate that this harm would be outweighed by any public benefits of the development.”

“In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, the erected front porch extension, by virtue of its design, use of materials, scale and siting, constitutes an unsympathetic and visually intrusive form of development, to the detriment of character and appearance of the host dwelling and surrounding Conservation Area, and to the detriment of the setting of the adjoining Grade II Listed Building.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Heritage officers found harm from the porch but accepted the reduced fence, while traffic officers raised no highway concerns and the civic society objected.

“The boundary fence is a close boarded timber fence, to the immediate front of the house a private space has been created where it is proposed the current 2.4m fence will be reduced to a height of 2m. To the remainder of the space, a proposed parking area, the fence is reduced in height to 0.9, on top of an existing dwarf wall and 1.2ms respectively.”

“HBC Traffic and Transport: There are no highway or traffic concerns…”

Officer report

What residents said

Objections raised concerns about the fence’s height, appearance, conservation area character, prominence, light effects and nearby listed buildings.

“- The fence has been erected too high, - The proposals are not in keeping with the conservation area, - The fence is in a prominent position as you enter Seaton Carew, - The fence looks industrial rather than residential, - The height of the fence is not in line with that permitted, - The fence negatively impacts the overall visual impression of the terrace of houses, - The fence blocks the light to the adjacent property, - The adjacent properties are listed buildings so…”

“- Disappointed that the porch was constructed without any consideration to the buildings location within the Seaton Carew Conservation Area. - The fence in its current form is ugly, overbearing and unnecessarily over- engineered - The fence is completely out of character with the row of houses to which no. 9 is attached, which are all Grade II listed buildings.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector addressed the committee, raising concerns about overlooking, communication, hedge maintenance and civil matters.

Member discussion

Members noted that rendering and painting would not resolve the porch’s design problems, the property was in a conservation area, and the works were retrospective.

“The porch being rendered and painted would not be acceptable due to its design/form and its detrimental impact. • The property was not a listed building but was within the Conservation Area.”

“The Local Authority were not consulted prior to the alterations being made to the property. The application was for retrospective planning permission. • The projecting frontage of the property is not expected within this area.”

Minutes

The vote

A motion to refuse the application in line with the officer recommendation was moved, seconded and unanimously supported.

“Councillor Oliver moved that this application be refused as per the officer recommendation. This was seconded by Councillor Jorgeson.”

Minutes