Streetly home extension plans are thrown out by planning committee
An ‘incongruous’ extension in Streetly has been refused by Walsall Council’s planning committee.
Plans to increase the property on Inglewood Grove by 42 per cent were brought before members at a meeting on Thursday, January 15.
It’s the second application to convert the property, the first was refused because of design and discrepancies in the plan, meaning an accurate assessment could not be made.
Planning officers originally believed that the reasons for refusal had been overcome, and recommended that the new plans be approved.
But Streetly ward member Councillor Keir Pedley called the decision to be made before committee members on the grounds design and layout, inaccuracies, and harm to amenities of nearby neighbours.
Objections were also received from 131 residents from Inglewood Grove and Wood Lane, as well as the local MP Wendy Morton.
But council officers said on publication of the planning committee documents last week, clear discrepancies were discovered.
It led to the recommendation being changed to a refusal, rather than an approval, just hours before the meeting.
Agent Hanif Ghumra said because he was notified about the change ‘at the 11th hour’, he asked that the decision be deferred.
The request was refused and councillors unanimously voted in favour to refuse the application.
The decision was moved by Councillor Mike Bird, chair of the committee, on the grounds of inaccuracies, out of character and incongruous development, and would be detrimental to the amenities of adjoining neighbours.
Deputy chair of the committee, Councillor John Murray, said: “I’m glad that the officers have changed the decision on this. I can now support the officers decision whereas previously I would have gone against it.
“When you read it’s a 42 per cent increase in the footprint, it’s incongruous. We read in the report about a number of things that are glossed over, they’re reasons for refusal but then they’re not refused.
“There were too many instances of where this application contravened our rules and regulations.”
