B&B conversion planning appeal lost

AN APPEAL to overturn a decision by Blaenau Gwent planners to refuse an application to convert a home into a Bed and Breakfast has been lost.
Last year, Andrew Nicholas lodged a planning application with Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to build a two-storey rear extension to provide kitchen, lounge, bedroom, bathroom, and en-suite facilities at number seven Beaufort Terrace, Ebbw Vale.
A change of use application from a residential dwelling to a B&B, as well as demolishing an existing single-storey extension were also part of the scheme.
Mr Nicholas has said the scheme could safeguard and create between five and seven jobs at The Badminton Club, from where the facility would have been run from.
In June 2022, the council’s Planning Committee agreed with planning officer advice and refused the application.
Following the decision Mr Nicholas lodged an appeal with Planning and Environment Decision Wales, (PEDW).
In March, a planning inspector appointed by Welsh Government ministers visited the site before reaching a verdict on the application.
Planning inspector Ian Stevens said: “The appeal proposal would be significantly larger than the existing single-storey extension.
“The additional increase in scale would form a substantial structure running
close along the shared boundary.
“Due to its size and position, the significant depth and two-storey height of the extension would have a material overbearing effect on the occupiers
of number nine (Beaufort Terrace) when viewed from the nearest ground-floor windows and when using their rear amenity space.
“Given the orientation of dwellings, there is a strong likelihood that the proposal would result in a significant diminution of daylight in the ground-floor rooms of number nine nearest to the boundary, over and above that which currently exists.”
Mr Stevens added that he “acknowledged” that the development would provide “some economic benefits” but it did not “alter” his judgment that it would be “harmful” to neighbours.
“I conclude that the appeal should be dismissed,” said Mr Stevens.
An appeal for costs to be awarded to the applicant was also refused. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​