Planning Permission Given For House Next to Footpath

A planning application to build a 3 bedroom chalet style bungalow on a parcel of land adjacent to 5 St Annes Close, accessed from Old Greys Lane (Waterworks Lane) has been approved by SODC despite Henley Town Council recommending refusal and The Henley Society making an objection.  Eight nearby neighbours also registered their objections to the development.

The plot runs alongside a well used footpath which connects Deanfield Road to Deanfield Avenue.

Henley Town Council Planning Committee recommended refusal on the grounds that this development would be overdevelopment of the site and would have an adverse impact on the neighbouring properties. The Committee are concerned over the lack of landscaping proposed and habitat loss, the safety of the proposed access and the impact on the right of way running through the site.

The Henley Society commented, “This plot appears unsuitable for a residential property – it is very narrow and close to a steep hillside.”

In 2009 an application for the erection of a single detached dwelling, which was refused on two grounds and upheld at appeal based on the size of the garden and the shadowing impact of the nearby trees.

In the SODC decision notice it states, “The principle of the development is considered acceptable, and the proposed development would not harm the character and appearance of the area. The
proposed development would not harm the amenity of neighbours, protected ecology, any important landscape features, the safety of pedestrians along the shared footpath and would ensure appropriate parking and manoeuvring, drainage measures and means to remediate any contamination. ”