Homeowner Seeks Permission to Retain Sunnyside Bungalow Summerhouse and Garage

A HOMEOWNER has asked a council for permission to keep a summerhouse and garage after work started without planning permission. 
Adam Challenger has applied for permission to allow him to retain the detached garage and for the partial retention of the summerhouse, also described as a garden room, in the grounds of his Sunnyside Bungalow home at Crumlin Road in Old Furnace, Pontypool. 
According to the application work on the original development started in May last year but hasn’t been completed. 
A statement submitted to Torfaen Borough Council’s planning department in support of the application explained: “The proposal regularises and improves existing arrangements within the site through the provision of a purpose-built garage structure at the lower driveway level whilst retaining the established garden room at upper garden level.  
“The proposal also incorporates alterations to the roof area above the garage to prevent access and improve safety.” 
It states Sunnyside Bungalow occupies a substantial residential plot on the southern side of Old Furnace with the home at a higher garden level and the access and driveway located at a “considerably lower level” at roadside. 
The summerhouse is described as occupying “a discreet position” within the garden, above the garage, and is “visually contained by existing land levels and boundary treatments”. 
A new fence is intended to prevent access to the garage roof level and the existing roof would be altered so that it is sloping with “no opportunity for use as an external terrace or balcony”. 
According to the statement the “garage has been carefully designed to respond to the site’s challenging topography” and its position at the lower level is contained by existing and proposed retaining walls that “significantly reduces its apparent scale”. 
The garden room is described as maintaining “the established pattern of development within the site without introducing additional bulk or massing at upper garden level.” 
The application also seeks permission for retaining walls and external works and the application is described as “fully compliant” with the council policy on protecting the amenity of neighbours as it’s claimed there will be no overlooking or loss of privacy. 
The application is being considered by planners with the public able to comment on the proposals until Monday, August 24.  ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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