Ketton Home Improvement Project to be Considered by Rutland County Councils Planning Committee

Ketton Home Improvement Project to be Considered by Planning Committee

Ketton Windmill

Rutland County Council's Planning Committee will meet this evening to discuss a planning application for home improvements at 15 Barrowden Road, Ketton. The application, submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Stelle Church, proposes a new porch, a detached garage, and a shed.  The fact that the planning agent is an elected member of the council has brought the application before the committee.

The property, "Westfields," is a detached two-story house located on Barrowden Road, an area characterised by detached homes of mixed architectural styles set back from the road. The proposed development involves converting the existing garage into a dining room, constructing a new porch, and building a detached garage with an attached shed and a roofed patio.

While the application is for relatively minor home improvements, it will be reviewed against local and national planning policies, including the National Planning Policy Framework, the Site Allocations and Policies DPD, the Core Strategy DPD, and the Ketton and Tinwell Neighbourhood Plan.  These policies emphasize good design, maintaining local character, and ensuring no adverse impact on neighbouring properties.

The planning officer's report concludes that the proposed changes are in keeping with the character of the area.  The modest alterations to the façade, including the new porch, are considered to be in scale with the existing dwelling and the street scene. The detached garage, shed, and patio are also deemed appropriate in size and design, reflecting the scale of the main house.

The report also addresses potential impacts on neighbouring properties, stating that the proposed development, due to its modest scale and adequate separation distances, would not have an unacceptable impact on residential amenities.  An informative is recommended to remind the applicant of the requirements of the Party Wall Act.

Highway issues are not expected to be affected by the development, and the proposal is exempt from Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.  The Community Infrastructure Levy is not applicable.

During the consultation period, some concerns were raised regarding the impact on boundary treatment and access due to the garage's proximity to the boundary.  Questions were also raised about the lack of a proposed ground floor layout.  The planning officer's report clarifies that the garage will not impact any protected trees or hedges and that the ground floor layout plan (CHU002A) was in fact included with the application.

No neighbour representations are specifically mentioned in the provided documentation.

The planning officer recommends approval of the application, subject to standard conditions regarding commencement of development and adherence to the submitted plans. The committee will now consider the application and the planning officer's report before making a final decision.