PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have given the go-ahead for extensions to a Green Belt cottage – even though their officers had recommended the scheme be thrown out.
The borough council’s development management committee decided to approve the scheme to add extensions to Holly cottage, in Stockton Lane, Grappenhall.
Believed to date back to 1897 – although extended in more recent years – officers argued that the extensions were a disproportionate addition to the original cottage and would have a harmful impact on the Green Belt.
They said there were no special circumstances that would allow development in the Green Belt, meaning the principle of developmentwass not acceptable and the plan should be refused.
However they conceded there would be no unacceptable impacts on the defined local character of the area, nor on residential amenity and committee members decided the development should be allowed for this reason.
The extensions are to provide a shower room, additional bathroom and kitchen extensions.
Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council were consulted but made no observations.
Warrington Borough councillor Ryan Bate pointed out that there was no firm evidence of the extent of the original property and that similar extensions had been permitted locally.
