Appeal Decision 68 - Certificate of Lawful Development.
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December 2009 - Code a00068
Summary of Case (appeal
allowed):
The property is a two-storey
mid-terrace house with an original two-storey rear projection. The application was for a proposed “L”-shaped
dormer, which would have been across both the rear roof of the main part of the house as well as the side roof
of the original two-storey rear projection.
Although no part of the
proposed dormer would have exceeded the height of the main ridge-line of the house, the part of the dormer on
the side roof of the original two-storey rear projection would have exceeded the height of the ridge-line of the
latter structure.
The first key issue was
whether the proposed dormer would be contrary to Class B, part B.1(a), which states that “Development is not
permitted by Class B if … any part of the dwellinghouse would, as a result of the works, exceed the height of
the highest part of the existing roof”.
The Inspector stated the
following:
“That provision [i.e.
Class B, part B.1(a)] is in the same terms as it was before the October 2008 amendments to the Order. It was
held in Hammersmith & Fulham LBC
v Secretary of State for the Environment [1994] JPL 957 that, on the face of it, “the existing roof” referred
to the roof of the house as a whole, and not just that of the (in that case, flat roof) extension.
The present case coincidentally involves just such a Victorian house as the Court then envisaged might present
difficulties if a different approach were taken, because of the complexity, or at least lack of uniformity, of
the roof structures. The words in paragraph B.1(a) should therefore be taken as referring to the highest part of
the roof of the dwellinghouse as a whole.”
As the eaves of the original
two-storey rear projection are at a lower level than the eaves of the main rear roof, the part where the dormer
extends from the former roof to the latter roof would involve removing a section of the original eaves of the
main rear roof.
The second key issue was
whether this would be contrary to Class B, part B.2(b), which states that “other than in the case of a
hip-to-gable enlargement, the edge of the enlargement closest to the eaves of the original roof shall, so far as
practicable, be not less than 20 centimetres from the eaves of the original roof”.
The Inspector stated the
following:
“Development within Class
B is permitted subject to the conditions in paragraph B.2. Condition B.2(b), on the which the Council also rely,
now requires the edge of the enlargement closest to the eaves of the original roof to be not less than 20cm from
them, but only “so far as reasonably practicable”. Because the dormer construction in this case would extend
from one roof plane to the other, part of the eaves of the main roof would actually be removed. The “edge
closest to the eaves” would also extend from one roof plane to the other, and thus at different levels, but can
still be seen as a single entity. The submitted plans are not of sufficient scale or detail to assess the
precise distance from the eaves but do indicate that the “edge” would run continuously above them. I see no
reason therefore why “so far as reasonably practicable” this condition should not be met, albeit that it will be
for the Appellant to show that it has been.”
Main
Conclusions:
·
Where a property has an original
rear projection (with a roof at a similar level to the main roof) then an extension (e.g. a dormer) on the
roof of the original rear projection would fall within the scope of Class B (i.e. rather than
Class A). [Note:
This would appear to contradict at least one other appeal decision – for further information see the entry in
the “Reference Section” on “Interaction between Class A, Class B, and Class C”]. [Relevant to: “Interaction between Class A, Class B, and
Class C”, Class A, A.1(i), Class B, B.1(c)].
·
The phrase “the highest part of
the existing roof” refers to the house as a whole (i.e. the main ridge-line), and not just the
part of the house where the works would be carried out. [Note: This would appear to contradict
at least one other appeal decision – for further information see the entry in the “Reference Section” on
“Highest Part of the … Roof”]. [Relevant to: “Highest Part of the … Roof”, A.1(b),
C.1(b), G.1(a), H.1(b)].
·
For example, where a property
has an original rear projection, a dormer on the roof of the latter structure is limited by the height of the
main ridge-line of the house, and not by the height of the ridge-line of the original rear
projection. [Note:
This would appear to contradict at least one other appeal decision – for further information see the entry in
the “Reference Section” on “Highest Part of the … Roof”]. [Relevant to: “Highest Part of the … Roof”, A.1(b),
B.1(a), C.1(b), G.1(a), H.1(b)].
·
Where the eaves of an original
two-storey rear projection are at a lower level than the eaves of the main rear roof, the requirement to be
not less than 20cm from the eaves of the original roof would not prevent an “L”-shaped dormer that
extends from the former roof to the latter roof. [Relevant to: B.2(b)].
Links to the “Appeal
Decision Notice” and other associated documents (e.g. drawings, etc):
·
Appeal Decision
Notice:
http://planningjungle.com/?s2member_file_download=a00068-Appeal-Decision-Notice.pdf&s2member_skip_confirmation&s2member_file_inline=yes
·
Drawings: http://planningjungle.com/?s2member_file_download=a00068-Drawings.pdf&s2member_skip_confirmation&s2member_file_inline=yes
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