Agenda item

Proposal: Erection of a garden shed

The Development Management Case Officer introduced her report and advised that the proposal was for a shed within the garden of a Grade II listed building.  Conditions would restrict any future conversion to a habitable building and position of shutters to prevent overlooking.  The site was currently occupied by an unauthorised shipping container which would be removed by condition within 3 months if approved.  If the application was not approved then enforcement action would be sought for its removal. She said that 11 letters of objection had been received from local residents and the Parish Council and although the objections had been carefully considered, her recommendation was to approve the application.

The Committee were addressed by one local resident. He said the proposed shed was much larger in area than would be needed for a garden shed, but was more suited to an industrial building.  It would be excessively high at 4.5m, the corrugated roof was not suited to a garden shed and it would be sited only 1m from his boundary.  He referred to drilling and sawing noise from the storage container which had been on the site since 2018.  He suggested the roof height be lowered to 3m and that it be located further away from his boundary which was set at a lower level.

The Committee were addressed by the applicant who said they had taken advice from officers before submitting their application.  He said the shed would be for domestic use only and the roof pitch was the same as a barn.  He said there was no intention to breach any planning conditions and he felt it would have a minimal impact on his neighbours.

The Ward Member, Councillor Gerard Tucker, said the proposed shed would be almost double the height of the shipping container at the site and although conditions imposed no business use or windows overlooking neighbours it was in a conservation area and within the curtilage of a listed building and the height would be overbearing. He noted that separate enforcement action on the unauthorised shipping container was ongoing.

During discussion Members expressed concern at the height of the proposed shed in a conservation area and its close proximity to the boundary.  It was proposed to refuse permission as the proposal was against policies EQ2 and EQ3 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-28) – against the local area character and proximity to a listed building, and, because of its size and harm to the character of the area.

This proposal was seconded and unanimously agreed by Members.

The garden shed hereby proposed in terms of its size, setting materials and design is considered to cause harm to the character of the area and the heritage asset, contrary to policies EQ2 and EQ3 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-28) and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)