Garage extension and annexe at 28 Sycamore Close, Romsey
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Test Valley Southern Area Planning Committee on 7 Apr 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed extending and converting the existing garage to provide ancillary accommodation.
“PROPOSAL 3.1 Extension and conversion of existing garage to form ancillary accommodation.”
Officer report
The site
The site is on the northern side of Sycamore Close within Romsey’s settlement boundary.
“SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION 2.1 The application site is located to northern side of Sycamore Close and is within the settlement boundary of Romsey.”
Officer report
Earlier permissions
Earlier permissions covered a porch, a rear-garden shed, a garage and side extensions providing additional living and bedroom accommodation.
“09/02349/FULLS - Shed in rear garden (Permission granted 08.01.2010).”
“TVS.01353/1 - Erection of single and two storey side extension to provide additional living and bedroom accommodation (Permission granted 22.06.2004).”
Officer report
The committee’s view
The committee considered the proposal would harm the open, spacious and verdant frontage through a large and incongruous feature.
“The Officer’s recommendation, as per the agenda, was proposed by Councillor M Cooper and seconded by Councillor A Dowden. Upon being put to the vote the motion fell. Refusal was proposed by Councillor A Dowden and seconded by Councillor Gwynne. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.”
“REFUSED for the following reasons: The proposed development by virtue of its size, design, and location would introduce built development within this open and spacious frontage. The proposal will result in a large and incongruous feature within the front garden resulting in significant adverse impact on the open and verdant character of the area resulting in irreversible harm to its character and appearance contrary to policies E1 and E2 of the Test Valley Revised Borough…”
Minutes
The members' reasons
The resolution gives these reasons:
Minutes
- The proposed development by virtue of its size, design, and location would introduce built development within this open and spacious frontage. The proposal will result in a large and incongruous feature within the front garden resulting in significant adverse impact on the open and verdant character of the area resulting in irreversible harm to its character and appearance contrary to policies E1
- The benefits of the scheme including the introduction of ancillary accommodation for the applicant’s elderly and vulnerable relatives is noted, however the proposed ancillary accommodation could be provided without resulting in the identified harm. The identified harm is real and permanent harm and the benefits do not therefore out weight the harm. (The meeting terminated at 8.42 pm)
Source: the council's minutes, quoted word for word.
Sources
- Test Valley Southern Area Planning Committee minutes, 7 April 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Test Valley'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
- Council
- Test Valley
- Date
- Tuesday 7 April 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Refused, against officer advice
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Test Valley committee decisions →
This committee's year
22 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 3 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.