Plans to build a “lorry-sized” granny annex in a countryside cottage have sparked a row among neighbours in a South Gloucestershire village. Several villagers opposed the plans due to the size of the proposed extension, which has now been given planning permission.
The plans include demolishing an outbuilding at Pound Cottage in Rockhampton and building the large granny annex. Representatives for the cottage owners said the extension would allow them to care for elderly relatives.
But neighbours objected to the size of the new extension, during a meeting of the development management committee at South Gloucestershire Council. However, the committee voted to approve planning permission on Thursday, June 22.
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Ryan Cook, speaking on behalf of the applicants, said: “The proposal is designed to provide a high quality, accessible annex at ground floor level, capable of supporting an elderly relative. By integrating multi-generational living into the site, the applicant will be able to provide much-needed care and support for relatives, while also providing decent living standards, comfort and relative independence.”
Initially the plans also included using the extension for short-term lets, although this part has now been dropped after concerns were raised. Neighbours living however said the annex would be the size of an “articulated lorry trailer”, bearing down on their property along a boundary fence.
Geoff Fisher, a neighbour, said: “My wife and I are very concerned about the quality of design, the scale and siting of the building and its impact on our property. An articulated lorry trailer in the UK has an average height of 4.2 metres, and the proposed building is 4.15 metres. The average length is 12 metres, proposed is 13.35 metres.
“When you’re alongside one of these heavy goods vehicles in traffic, it’s quite intimidating. To have the equivalent of one parked against your boundary is to urbanise your property. My wife and I do not have any problems with our neighbours converting their property to provide accommodation space. But surely another solution can be found.”
The village of Rockhampton, north of Thornbury, does not usually see controversial planning applications, according to a ward councillor. But these plans were called in for the committee to decide, given the relatively large level of objections.
Councillor Matthew Riddle, representing Severn Vale, said: “Rockhampton in terms of planning is usually very quiet. I think this is the first call-in I’ve done in Rockhampton since 2007. Five letters of objection is actually quite a lot for the small parish. While we should be encouraging families to look after and care for their elderly generation, the key issue here is: is the massing of this new proposal too much for the neighbouring property?”
The development management committee voted to approve the plans, with eight voting in favour and one against.
