A Keswick homeowner has convinced the town council to support his plan for a two-storey extension, part of which was branded “awful” by one member.
Andrew Smith-Davies has applied to the Lake District National Park Authority for permission to renovate Sunny Bank on Chestnut Hill.
Keswick Town Council’s three-member planning panel objected to the works, which include an excavation of the back garden and changes to the windows at the front.
Cllr Steve Harwood, who chairs the panel felt the extension was over development and required significant excavation” as well as being out of character.
He told councillors: “I’ve got every sympathy with anyone who wants to extend their house providing it is done sympathetically and proportionately to the house.”
But Cllr Harwood claimed part of the proposal looked awful.
However, Cllr Peter Terry said he had spoken to people in neighbouring properties and neither had any objection having been given prior notification of the plans by Mr Smith-Davies.
Cllr Terry said: “All in all, I don’t think it’s a reasonable or acceptable excuse for the town council to be objecting when the two residents either side have no objection.”
Mr Smith-Davies said that he and his wife relocated to Keswick from Lincolnshire to start a family. He told councillors it had taken a year-and-half to find a suitable property in Keswick, having been gazumped by holiday let and second home owners.
Mr Smith-Davies said: “I think the only reason we found Sunny Bank was because it needed a lot of work doing to it and not a lot had been done for a number of years
“We basically want to create an extension that future-proofed a growing family as we are 200 miles from our family, so we need somewhere to accommodate a growing family and grandparents who want to come up and stay.
“We tried to be respectful with all our neighbours by communicating this before we even started to design anything “Aesthetically we hope it will improve the area.”
Mayor Alan Dunn said while the council listened to its planning panel, it did not always agree with them.
Cllr Paul Titley said: “I do have a problem with us turning from a planning group into a ‘does it pass our version of a beauty contest?”
“If neighbours either side of the property think it’s fine, I don’t feel I am in a position to tell them I don’t agree and that I should stop what you want to do.”
Put to the vote, the planning panel’s objection had three in support and three against but was defeated by Cllr Dunn using his casting vote.
Instead, the council agreed Cllr Terry’s alternative proposal to support the planning application which won with four votes in favour, three against and two abstentions.
Cllr Harwood, for the planning panel, was supported by Cllr Duncan Miller and Cllr Allan Daniels.
He said: “We really don’t mind being challenged. We take a view on what’s put before us and if anyone wants to take a different view to us then that’s fine.”
The LDNPA will make the final decision on the application.
