Neighbours living near a house in Redland are furious after owners built a home office and gym in a garden “slightly larger” than approved plans. The outbuilding might now have to be torn down after an investigation by planning enforcement, pending a decision next week.
A home office and gym was built in the garden of a basement flat on Elliston Road in Redland. But planners at Bristol City Council say the building was constructed 80cm larger than the plans they gave permission for.
The owners of the flat must now apply again for planning permission for the outbuilding. If it’s refused, the building might have to be demolished. Councillors will vote on whether to approve permission during a development control A committee on Wednesday, July 5.
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A planning report said: “Officers investigated to find that the garden building was indeed slightly larger than approved.”
A large garage behind the terraced house was recently demolished, and plans for a smaller office and gym were given approval in May last year. A local conservation group is now urging the council to force the homeowner to demolish the new office and gym.
Writing to the council, a spokesman for the Redland and Cotham Amenities Society said: “The building has already been constructed, not in compliance with previously approved plans, and is significantly larger than the previous plans.
“It is out of keeping with the context of the conservation area in terms of its size and orientation. The society requests that planning permission be refused and that enforcement action be authorised to secure the removal of the existing structure.”
A neighbour added: “This has infuriated a swathe of reasonable and tolerant neighbours. In 50-plus years resident in Bristol, I have never before called for someone putting up a building that transgresses planning permissions to be required to rebuild to original dimensions. Yet in this case, remedial measures of that severity seem to be merited.”
Planning officers are recommending that councillors approve permission for the slightly larger building, noting that neighbouring houses also have garages and other outbuildings of various sizes. But councillors on the committee could decide to vote to refuse permission.
