Winchester council approves plans for garage extension in village

Andrew and Anna Budge, of Heathcote Place, Hursley, applied to the council for permission to extend the garage of their house to form an ancillary office and habitable space.

The application was permitted by the Winchester City Council planning committee on Wednesday, July 17.

Neighbour David Jowsey said that he had no objections to the extension of the garage, but said that he objected to plans to include a dormer window at the front.

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Applicant Anna Budge addressing the planning committee (Image: NQ)

He told the committee: “Heathcote Place comprises detached garages in front of the houses with the garage doors facing towards the respective houses. This means that what has been described as the rear of the garage in the officer’s report is actually the front-facing façade and roof.

“The end of Heathcote Place is a shared driveway serving five properties. It is not an adopted highway, but I question the definition that this is private. Anyone can access it, and it is public access for all the properties. In addition, contrary to the planning officers' report, you can see the garage from the public highway.

“Either way, just because the space in front of the garage is not public highway, that does not mean they can have carte blanch to build whatever they want. The dormer is a poorly designed addition to the garage and streetscape.”

In a statement read out by a council officer, Hursley Parish Council also objected to the application, calling it an “inappropriate overdevelopment, in a compact residential area”.

Anna Budge, supporting the application, told the committee: “This application follows a change in our working situation in the post-Covid era, with us both working from home and like many people, we are looking to secure dedicated office space. Our current home only has a single study, and work to alter and extend the garage would provide an additional workspace.

“The majority of the dwellings (in Heathcote Place) have been altered over time, with front, side and rear extensions, including the properties adjoining our home. We therefore looked to propose a design approach which replicated alterations and existing extensions found in the close”.

Cllr Brian Laming said: “Knowing this area reasonably well, I am concerned with the impact, which I think was described by the objectors as being out of keeping with the area and is an overdevelopment of that site.

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“The visual impact on the area will have a substantial effect on the neighbouring properties.”

Cllr Jane Rutter said: “I have been to this site and looked around, and as pointed out before most of the properties have had various extensions and most properties have garages at the front of the properties. So it is a very blocky area anyway.

“I have looked very carefully at this application, and I think you must not be taken down a blind alley with the views we’ve been presented by the objectors.”

The application was approved.