A plan for an annexe that was rejected over concerns it could be turned into a new home in Woodley could still be approved.
The owner purchased the sizeable house along Reading Road for £730,000 last November.
He subsequently applied to build an annexe with a double-bed, an ensuite and an open plan kitchen and living area to the rear of the garden.
However, the project was rejected by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning department over concerns that it could be turned into a separate home.
Assessing the application, a planning officer noted that the annexe would have a bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom and living space – all the facilities required for separate day-to-day living.
Furthermore, they argued any future occupant would be able to leave without having to use the main property, exiting through a covered gated access.
The project was therefore rejected in March, with it being judged an ‘inappropriate development in a residential garden’.
However, the annexe could still gain approval as the homeowner has appealed against this decision to the government’s planning inspectorate.
An agent from J&L has been appointed to make the owner’s case.
They argued that the description of the development is an annexe to rear for use ancillary to the main dwelling, and it should therefore be treated as such.
The agent explained: “The description of development was accepted by the council and the proposal advertised and subject of consultation, on this basis.
“Indeed, the decision notice also provides confirmation of the description of development.
“Accordingly, the appeal is evidently not for a separate dwelling and it is important that the appeal is determined as a proposal concerning annexe accommodation and not the creation of a separate dwelling.”
The agent also disputed the argument that the future occupant would be able to leave without any contact with the main house.
They wrote: “The front elevation of the host dwelling spans the width of the appeal site, with the absence of side space and, consequently, access to the rear garden can only be obtained via the envelope of the host dwelling.
“Accordingly, the proposed annexe cannot be accessed independently.
“As such, the future use of the annexe is significantly restricted, severely limiting its autonomous use.”
Any future occupant of the annexe would only be able to leave via Reading Road, as the rear garden is bound by another property in Wheble Drive.
A date for the appeal to be decided by a planning inspector has not been arranged yet.
You can view the application by typing reference 250141 into the council’s planning portal. You can monitor the progress of the appeal using reference APP/X0360/D/25/3364233 on the planning inspectorate website.
