A plan to add a family home to a semi-detached house in a residential street in North Ascot has been defeated.
A plan to add a family home to a semi-detached house in Wentworth Way, North Ascot, has been defeated.
A developer wanted to add a three-bedroom home to the semi, demolishing a side extension to create a terrace of three properties.
Neighbours objected, saying the proposal would harm the street’s character. Their concerns were heard by Bracknell Forest Council.
Speaking at the meeting, objector Richard Cleverley said: “I’ve lived in the road for over 40 years. “My objections to the planning proposal are that the street is lined with semi-detached houses or Bungalows for its entire length, every property has a grass verge between the house and the footpath, and there is only one property on each plot. “Adding a second property would create a row of three terraced houses, it is totally out of character for the area.”
He also argued the four parking spaces planned in front of the properties would be out of keeping, as many houses in the street have driveways.
Owner Brad Smith said he intended to move in with his family, with his father and elderly grandmother next door. He said: “The scheme will provide an additional family-sized unit in a sustainable location. “The scheme meets all the council’s requirements in terms of parking and garden space and has no negative impact on neighbouring properties.”
Planning officer Shelley Clark recommended approval, saying the new home could be added without adverse impact on the character of the area, highway safety or neighbouring amenity.
Councillors voted five to three to reject the scheme at a planning meeting in November 2024.
Mr Smith appealed. His planning agent argued that quasi-terraced homes created by side extensions already exist in Wentworth Way and said a draft legal agreement setting mitigation measures for the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) had not been laid out. The agent argued such agreements should be made following approval to mitigate the financial risk for the applicant.
Inspector Reeves dismissed the appeal, ruling the additional home would ‘disrupt the established rhythm, symmetry, and architectural harmony’ of the streetscene.
You can view the refused application by typing reference 23/00814/FUL into Bracknell council’s planning portal.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
