Update - 4 August 2017
The application, ref. No. 17/02728/FULL6, for a two-storey side-and-roof extension and a single-storey rear extension at Oak Dene, Oaklands Road, Bromley BR1 3SL has been permitted. The delegation report and decision dated 4 August 2017 are available.

Nearby owners/occupiers were notified of the application and representations received are summarised as follows:
  • Scaffolding detail needs to be clarified.
  • The proposed extension will be too close to the boundary and this will be particularly imposing as the main entrance of Basil House is facing that wall. This is intensified by the proposed increase I height. The row of Victorian Houses are [sic] designed in proportion of the surrounding ground / gardens. If Oakdene is extended to the side towards basil House this aesthetic proportion will be compromised and will leave the overall look of the row of houses out of balance.
The main issues relating to the application are –
  • the effect that it would have on the character of the area; and
  • the impact that it would have on the amenities of the occupants of surrounding residential properties.
The planning officer believes that the proposed side extension will remain subservient to the main house in terms of width and scale, incorporating a hipped roof and first floor set back. The proposal will increase the height of the main roof by 0.3 m; however this is not considered to result in conspicuous harm to the street scene due to the fact that the neighbouring properties at Nos. 20 and 22 significantly exceed the current height of Oak Dene. The proposal would respect the character of the house and although the rear extension is significant, this would not be clearly viewable from public areas and would retain a large area of rear garden space without overdeveloping the site.

On balance, it is considered that the proposal would respect the character of the area.

The planning officer notes that the proposed side extension will retain a 1 m side space to the flank boundary of the site and will remain approximately 4 m from the flank wall of No. 22. This relationship is considered to be acceptable and would not result in a detrimental impact on the amenities of occupiers of No. 22, as non-habitable windows face the site (first floor hallway and obscurely glazed bathroom window). In addition, no flank windows are proposed and this is considered to respect amenities.

The proposed single storey rear extension will be significant in its size and rear projection; however Oak Dene is detached and well separated from its neighbouring buildings. To the north, No 22 currently projects significantly to the rear of Oak Dene and so the proposed rear extension would not project beyond the rear wall. To the south, No. 20 is also well separated from the site with an access drive between the buildings. Although the extension will extend significantly beyond the rear wall of No. 20, this relationship is considered to be acceptable as a result of the orientation to the north and the low roof height and bulk.

On balance, it is considered that the proposal would respect the amenities of local residents.

Update - 3 July 2017
A new application, ref. No. 17/02728/FULL6, has been made for a two-storey side-and-roof extension and a single-storey rear extension at Oak Dene, Oaklands Road, Bromley BR1 3SL.


Front elevation from Oaklands Road

The design and access statement is available. This includes the following statement on garages:

Often new garages, especially those integrated into the house, are the most dominant feature on the site. However, the front door should be the primary element in the composition, treated as the focal point of the building facade.

Domestic garages should not be obtrusive and discordant elements in the street scene. Garages in the front gardens are rarely acceptable as they lead to a loss of garden space and harm the setting of the house. Ideally new garages should be located to the side or rear. Those to the side are best recessed behind the established building line and detailed in a manner that complements the detailing on the host building. Garage roofs, as those to extensions, should be given careful consideration.

The proposal does not retain the existing unusable (for a car) 1930’s garage, replacing it with a study and a bike store. These features are secondary to the front entrance in the same way that the existing garage is, with the front door recessed and served by a full width projecting step and a hipped roof continuing from the study/ bike store element. This clearly defines the front entrance.

Update - 29 March 2015
The Appeal has been dismissed – we won. The main issue was the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area. See this Decision for details.

Update - 23 December 2014
Please don't forget to write to the Planning Inspector to object to the appeal. Attached is our objection.

Update - 10 December 2014
This application has just been appealed - see here. Any further comments have to be made by 7 January 2015. In order to make a comment on the Planning Inspector’s website, it is necessary to set up an account (easy to do) and then wait for a confirmatory e-mail.

Update - 21 October 2014
Now attached from the Council planning website are:
The application is refused as the proposal, by reason of its limited plot size, excessive bulk and height and limited side space provision, would constitute a cramped and over-dominant form of development, leading to an undesirable diminution in spatial standards in the area, and represent an incongruous addition to the streetscene. Cllr. Will Harmer has called this "Another win for RVPS and its residents!"

Update - 14 October 2014
According to the Council planning website, the application for the demolition of the existing house and erection of a four-storey block of flats with associated parking and landscaping at Oak Dene, Oaklands Road, Bromley has been refused.

Update - 12 June 2014
See this link for our objection to the demolition of Oak Dene.

Important message - 6 June 2014
We expect that this application will be considered by a Plans Sub-Committee of Bromley Council. A likely date for the meeting of this sub-committee is 7.00 PM, Thursday 3 July 2014, but this will be confirmed in due course. The venue will be the Council Chamber in the Bromley Civic Centre. We intend to speak against the application and support from residents would be appreciated.

Update - 6 June 2014
Join us in our campaign to resist this application!

As mentioned below objections should be made to the council by 13 June 2014 although they will still be valid up to 19 June if you are pressed for time. Objections can be made online here or by e-mail to Planning@bromley.gov.uk. Please do not hesitate to copy your objections to our local Councillor. Do please copy us as well.

A significant issue with this application is the lack of side space. This photograph shows the side space of the property immediately to the right of Oak Dene:

 

And this is the side space of the property to the left of Oak Dene:


By comparison the side space of the proposed property would be around one metre, obviously much less than the standard to which the area is currently developed. Further, the dotted line is the existing footprint of the house so it is obvious that the proposed property would be substantially larger. As such, the proposed property would result in a cramped overdevelopment of the site.

 Oak Dene, Oaklands Road - 29 May 2014
An application has just been submitted for the demolition of Oak Dene in Oaklands Road under reference 14/01844. Details can be found here. The would-be developer is P.J. Supplies. Currently, the application is described incorrectly on Bromley’s website but it is in fact for 4 × two bedroom flats on the ground and first floor whilst there would be a further 2 × split-level two bedroom flats on the third and fourth floor.

Oak Dene in the winter 

Oak Dene in the summer

The application only provides for 5 car parking spaces (which themselves are rather cramped) to the front of the property, which at full capacity could house 20 people. Whilst it is unlikely to be fully occupied, it could quite reasonably be occupied by 12 adults and as such there would inevitably be even more pressure on on-street parking.

We also have concerns about the hedge at the front of the property which would be essential to screen the ‘car park’ at the front of the property. Experience has shown that when a car park is cramped, as this would be, the front boundary hedge tends to get removed to make way for cars entering and leaving the property. 113 Foxgrove Road is an example of this, which incidentally was also developed by P.J. Supplies. 

Above: no screening at all now remains at 113 Foxgrove Road – the car park is simply too cramped.

The property would have a very substantial footprint and comes within a metre of the side boundary, which results in a rather cramped overdevelopment.

There would also be a loss of trees at the site, which is covered by a Blanket Tree Preservation Order. Unfortunately, the Arboricultural report does not provide an accurate map so we cannot tell which three trees would be felled if this application were given permission. However, we believe that two of the trees that are identified for felling would be two that were recently saved from felling when an application to do just that was recently refused.

The following documents on this application are available from these links:

Comments about the application will have to be made by 13 June 2014. If you would like to be kept up to date, please contact us.