Casebook: Householder development - Green belt basement pool held appropriate

Planning, 18 July 2008

The inspector was satisfied that the development would be almost imperceptible above ground level. Referring to PPG2 advice on the size of a building, she considered that a three-dimensional assessment of the mass of the original building, existing extensions and the proposed extension, above and below ground, would be appropriate. On this basis, she found that the proposed extension and a first-floor addition would amount to a 49 per cent increase in volume.

Taken together with the limited visual impact of the appeal scheme, she held that such a figure would not indicate an overly large addition. The inclusion of a recently built garage would result in only a marginal increase in the built percentage, she added. She concluded that even with the inclusion of the garage, the proposal would not result in disproportionate additions over and above the size of the original house.

DCS Number 100-056-057

Inspector Olivia Spencer; Inquiry.