Why Was This Refused?
- ✓Two-storey side extension proposed at an end-terrace dwelling in Onchan
- ✓Rear element of the extension considered incongruous in scale, roof design, and appearance
- ✓Large second floor rear window would cause overlooking and loss of privacy for neighbours at 26 The Park
- ✓Proposal judged harmful to the character and appearance of the street scene
- ✓Application refused under delegated powers
- ✓scale
- ✓design
- ✓character
- ✓overlooking
Permission was sought to alter and extend 56 Summerhill Road, Onchan, with a two-storey extension to the side elevation. The property is the southwest end terrace of a row of three terraced dwellings, finished in white roughcast render with a hipped, rosemary-tiled roof. The application was refused on two planning grounds. The rear element of the extension, including its roof design and second floor window, was found to be incongruous and out of keeping with the dwelling and the character of the surrounding area. In addition, a large habitable room window at second floor level facing southeast was considered to create an unacceptable degree of overlooking — both actual and perceived — into the conservatory and rear garden of the neighbouring property at 26 The Park. The decision was made under delegated powers by the Director of Planning and Building Control, with the officer also recommending refusal.
The application was refused on two grounds. First, the scale and design of the rear element of the extension, including the roof design and second floor window, were considered incongruous and harmful to the character of the dwelling and the wider street scene. Second, the large second floor window facing southeast would cause an unacceptable level of overlooking into the conservatory and rear garden of the neighbouring property at 26 The Park, harming the privacy of those residents.
Site Observations
- •The application site is the southwest end terrace of three terraced dwellings lying southeast of the Summerhill Road highway in Onchan. It has a hipped roof and short, forwardprojecting porch; both are finished in rosemary tiling, while the dwelling itself is finished in a roughcast render that is painted white.
- •To the south west, the dwelling has an attached, flatroofed garage that continues the front building line of the dwelling.
- •The properties of The Park are sitated to the southeast of the application site, with a pedestrian walkway between.
Refusal Reasons
- ✕The scale and design of the rear element of the extension, including the roof design and rear second floor window, would introduce an incongruous and unsympathetic element to the dwelling which would harm the appearance of the site and the overall character and appearance of the street scene when considered against the overall design in the area. In this regard, the proposal would not accord with General Policy 2 (b,c,g) of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan.
- ✕The rear extension, by virtue of the introduction of a large habitable room second floor window facing southeast, would introduce an unacceptable level of overlooking (both perceived and actual), resulting in harm to the residential amenity of the occupants of 26 The Park through loss of privacy and direct views into the conservatory and rear garden of that property. In this respect the proposal would be contrary to General Policy 2 (g) of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan.
