Appeal over partly built home in Darras Hall area of Ponteland is dismissed
A developer has lost an appeal over a partly built five-bedroom detached house in the Darras Hall area of Ponteland.
The appeal was submitted after the retrospective planning application by Santokh Singh for the ‘demolition of existing dwellings and construction of single dwelling house, following commencement of development’ was turned down by Northumberland County Council earlier this year.
The council ruled in its decision that the effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area would be ‘unacceptable’.
As part of his decision notice, planning inspector Paul Martinson said he saw that the proposed development at 8 and 10 Runnymede Road was well underway and that the existing dwellings had already been demolished.
His dismissal of the appeal included the following: “The appeal proposal would introduce a new substantial two-storey dwelling, spanning the two previously existing plots.
“The proposal would measure 8.4m high to the ridge and 5.8m high to the eaves. This would represent a significant increase from the, now demolished, bungalows which measured 6m high to the ridge.
“The proposal would thus introduce a dwelling of substantially greater massing than its immediate neighbours to this side of the road, disrupting the established pattern of modest dwellings with low roof heights.
“The prominent central gable with arched window and balcony and the formal neo-classical style fenestration arrangement would further contrast with the unassuming and restrained character of the adjacent properties.
“Overall, the proposal would appear as an incongruous form of development, at odds with the prevailing character.
“Furthermore, owing to its scale, massing and architecture, it would have an imposing and assertive effect on the street scene along Runnymede Road to the detriment of the character and appearance of the area.
“Whilst the proposal would leave space at either side of the dwelling, this would not diminish its dominance on the street scene, nor would it address the lack of consistency with the prevailing character described above.
“In conclusion, the proposed development would have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area and it would therefore conflict with policies of the Northumberland Local Plan and the Ponteland Neighbourhood Plan.”