Resident wins planning battle

A CULCHETH resident has won a planning battle with Warrington Borough Council over proposals to erect three dormer windows to the front of his bungalow.
An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has allowed an appeal by Mr E. England against the council’s refusal to grant permission for the windows at his home in Layland Avenue.
The inspector, Mr L Nurser, said the council had not objected to a single-storey rear extension also proposed by Mr England. But they had objected to the front dormers because of the impact they would have on the area.
He noted that the council’s supplementary planning guidance did not allow front dormer windows in a close of bungalows. However, Layland Avenue, while a very short road, was not a close.
While he understood the council’s concern that small scale changes could fundamentally alter the character of an area and make it harder to resist further developments, he did not believed the design proposed would significantly harm the appearance of the bungalow or the wider area.
He also did not believe the new windows would cause overlooking problems for a property in Birchall Avenue.