Wellesbourne family to rip out loft extension after building it 'too big'

A Wellesbourne family will have to rip out a dormer loft extension because they built it too big, with too many windows and in the wrong colour.

The enlarged roof space was to become a bedroom for the family’s autistic son but they will now need to think again with one local councillor describing the structure as a ‘shed sticking out of the roof’.

Members of Stratford District Council’s planning meeting this week (Wednesday) voted to refuse the retrospective planning application for the work on the Hammond Green home following objections from the parish council and neighbours.

Cllr Anne Prior, chair of Wellesbourne and Walton Parish Council said it was the committee’s duty to take a stand.

She told the virtual meeting: “This application is for building work that has been done in contravention of the original planning application.

"The parish council feels Stratford District Council has a duty to enforce planning applications and not to allow such breaches to be brought forward.

“The dormer is significantly larger than that agreed and one councillor described it as a shed sticking out of the roof.

"As you drive along Hammond Green road it can be clearly seen with no attempt to make the cladding in sympathy with the building or roof. It is an eyesore.

“If the applicant is given permission retrospectively it sends out a message to other residents that it is ok to ignore the planning permission given and change major features because Stratford District Council will give you permission anyway.”

Planning agent George Gaduzo explained that it had become clear during construction that the planned work would not have met the needs of the client whose autistic child needed as much daylight as possible. That was also why an extra rooflight was added.

He said: “It was a matter of ignorance in not appreciating that simply adding one more rooflight would be a problem. It’s not a defence but a statement of fact.“

But Cllr Chris Kettle (Con, Bishop’s Itchington) said: “It is 21 per cent larger so a very significant increase in volume. I completely understand where the parish council is coming from.

“We then have the additional bit of four not three Velux windows. This isn’t a matter of mistake, it’s a matter of let’s put the four in.

"We then have the third issue of colour - the black sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb.

"So in effect we have three breaches of a relatively simple application - I’m not quite sure what else they could have got wrong."