Council Amends Planning Permission for Garage Used as Annex After Homeowner Charged Council Tax

A COUNCIL has had to amend planning permission for a garage used as an annex after the homeowner was charged council tax. 
Monmouthshire County Council granted planning permission for the conversion of a garage at house at Maes Y Llarwydd in Abergavenny for “additional living accommodation for the occupiers of the existing dwelling” in May 2020. 
But Lou James has now been granted an amendment to that permission with a condition that “explicitly states” the garage can only be used as “ancillary accommodation to the main house”. 
Planning officer Kate Bingham said in a report: “Although the previous consent only allows ancillary use, the applicant has subsequently been charged for council tax on the garage as a second dwelling.” 
In 2023 Monmouthshire council agreed a 100 per cent premium on council tax for second homes would come into force from April 1 this year, meaning they are charged double council tax. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​