Councillors have refused a family’s application to create a driveway similar to their neighbours’ because their home is in a conservation area.
Simon Evans addressed Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee after officers advised members to refuse his retrospective application for a crossover and to remove a “significant” part of the front boundary wall at 20 Denmark Villas, Hove.
Mr Evans successfully applied to the council for permission for a crossover but it did not include planning permission to remove the wall to create a parking area.
His home is in the Denmark Villas Conservation Area where planning restrictions override some of the usual “permitted development rights”.
At the Planning Committee meeting at Hove Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday 6 November), Mr Evans told members that six of his neighbours had long-standing crossovers and driveways.
When his family moved into the house in 2011, a street tree prevented Mr Evans from creating a driveway but the tree was removed two years ago.
Mr Evans said: “We feel it does not alter the character of the neighbourhood in any detrimental way, let alone the aspects of it protected by the conservation area.
“It does not result in a noticeable loss of the site’s historic fabric and setting, nor does it give the curtilage of the property an overdeveloped appearance, which would harm the historic character of the property.”
Mr Evans wants to fit an electric vehicle charging point because, he said, there were too few public charging points in the area and he did not want to trail cables across the pavement.
Green councillor Sue Shanks asked how Mr Evans managed to gain permission for the crossover and was told that it was handled by a different team at the council.
Councillor Shanks said: “It’s a shame that council departments can’t work a bit better together. So someone gets permission then they’re also told don’t go ahead because you may not get planning permission.”
Labour councillor Jacob Allen referred to the character statement from the area, written in 1984, which lamented earlier changes to the roofs and loss of gardens for the homes built in 1860.
Councillor Allen said: “I don’t think this preserves or enhances (the conservation area) and therefore is contrary to policy.
“I understand this is the fourth or fifth application. I wasn’t here for those so I am happy to draw a line in the sand here and say no further.”
Labour councillor Alison Thomson voted to approve planning permission alongside Brighton and Hove Independent Mark Earthey.
Councillor Thomson said: “I feel like we’re living in 21st century and we have to be able to make changes. I don’t think this is to my mind (causing) significant harm.”
Councillor Earthey said: “The other five properties have destroyed that character so it is mortally wounded. This is an incremental change that does no harm.”
The committee voted to refuse the application by seven to two, in line with the recommendation by officials.
Sorry, had to chuckle at Councillor Earthey’s dramatic description.
He’s right though.
note that the applicant’s profession as a jester was not a material consideration. No doubt his experience will be used in a comedy routine. He got well stitched up. Even waving net zero electric charging flags failed to sway the committee. Mind you, though 2 cllrs did support the app. all the others (7) blindly followed the planning officer recommendation to refuse the application.
Ridiculous headline.
One day Cllr Allen will have to apply for planning permission himself, and I hope he gets what he deserves
Why does the council not clamp down on the decay of listed structures especially the ones the council owns.
The rationale of the local authority seems to be very disjointed on this. On the one hand they are championing the use of zero emission cars and for this to be a success an infrastructure of charging points will be necessary. The number required are not being provided by the local authority and there are an absolutely minimal number of electric charging points available on street. Instead, the council will rely upon owners of electric cars to invest in their own provision.
A high proportion of properties in central locations will be older, in conservation areas and without driveways, although some can convert their front gardens for this purpose. This decision would suggest that many local councillors are either lacking in comprehension in this matter or they are not serious about low emissions in city centre locations. Which is it?
This really does go against my sincere and pious Victorian Values.
It is all getting very kafkaesque round here. Evangelists – many on our Council urge us to address the self-declared “climate emergency” and or PM2 pollution: Get an EV. No! you can’t have anywhere to charge it. Bring your house up to EPC “C”. No! – you can’t get rid of the original windows and fit double glazing. Fit a heat pump – No! you can’t because you can’t put the pump far enough away from the neighbors. Want solar panels ? – No! not without planning in a “conservation area”.
All this against a backdrop of “working for us”
Yours,
Catchment area 22, formerly known as Brighton
Haha – love your post Chris. I live in a terrace, no front garden… no chance I can have an electric car even if I wanted one. What about the blocks of flats in town? Are they suppose to throw a lead out of the window?
So many of these policies are thought up by people in posh detached houses with large drives. No one thinks of the working person in a small rented house.