Garden room outbuilding at 54 Parkanaur Avenue, Thorpe Bay
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Southend Planning Committee on 23 Jul 2025.
What was proposed
Retrospective permission was sought for a single-storey detached garden room in the rear garden, with timber cladding, a roof canopy and surrounding decking.
“Planning permission is sought retrospectively to erect a single-storey, detached outbuilding in the rear garden for use as a garden room, incidental to the main dwelling. The outbuilding is some 6.2m wide, 3.5m deep and 2.7m high. A set of bifold doors are to its front as well as a window. It has an ‘L-shaped’ roof canopy some 2.7m high, 3.5m deep to the front, 3.5m wide to the front, 1.5m deep to its southern side and some 3.2m wide.”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The site contains a detached dwelling in a residential area and is near the locally listed St Augustine’s Church.
“The application site is on the east side of Parkanaur Avenue in a residential area and contains a detached dwelling.”
“The site is not within a Conservation Area or subject to any site-specific planning policy designations. To the rear (north east) of the site is a locally listed building (St Augustine’s Church).”
Officer report
Earlier planning history
A previous certificate application for a rear roof terrace found it was not lawful, while an earlier extension proposal was approved.
“25/00618/CLE - Erect roof terrace to rear (Certificate of Lawful Development - Existing). Not lawful.”
“17/00281/FULH - Demolish existing garage and erect part single/part two storey side extension incorporating garage, first floor rear extension, single storey rear extension and alter elevations (Amended Proposal). Approved.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended permission because the development was acceptable and complied with relevant planning policies and guidance.
“For the reasons outlined above the development is found to be acceptable and compliant with the relevant planning policies and guidance. As there are no other material planning considerations which would justify reaching a different conclusion it is recommended that planning permission is granted subject to conditions.”
“GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION subject to the following conditions:”
Officer report
Design and neighbours
The outbuilding was considered modest and suitably designed, with no harmful effect on the church, the streetscene or neighbouring residential amenity.
“The outbuilding is within the rear garden, retaining a sufficiently sized amenity area for the dwelling. It is visible from Johnstone Road to the rear over the existing boundary treatment. There are examples within close proximity of various other neighbouring outbuildings, including next door at No. Parkanaur Avenue.”
“The outbuilding is sited some 1.2m from the shared boundary with No. Parkanaur Avenue, which has an existing outbuilding along the shared boundary with the application site. There are no openings on the northern elevation facing No. 56 so no loss of privacy or overlooking concerns. Taking these factors into account, there are no harmful amenity impacts on No. Parkanaur Avenue in any relevant regards.”
Officer report
Public consultation
Seven neighbouring properties were notified and a site notice was displayed, but no representations were received.
“Seven (7) neighbouring properties were notified of the application by letter and a site notice was displayed. No representations have been received.”
Officer report
The committee decision
The committee granted planning permission subject to conditions requiring the approved plans to be followed and the outbuilding to remain incidental to the dwelling.
“That PLANNING PERMISSION be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:”
“The outbuilding hereby permitted shall not be occupied at any time other than for purposes incidental to the enjoyment of the residential use of the dwelling known as 54 Parkanaur Avenue, Southend-on-Sea.”
Minutes
The conditions
The permission requires retention in accordance with the approved plans and restricts occupation to purposes incidental to the dwelling.
“The development shall be retained in accordance with the following approved plans: PL100 (Rev A), Location plan.”
Minutes
Sources
- Southend Planning Committee minutes, 23 July 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Southend'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
- Southend Planning Committee
- Council
- Southend
- Date
- Wednesday 23 July 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Southend committee decisions →
This committee's year
8 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.