Neighbours feel they'll be 'oppressed' by extension
A number of extensions can be built to a family home in a wealthy neighbourhood despite concerns from neighbours they will give them an “oppressive feeling” and leave them with “no privacy”. Colin and Emily Morton wanted to extend their home and demolish the garage at their property on The Lydiate, in Heswall, on the Wirral submitting plans to Wirral Council for approval.
However the plans were forced to come to the local authority’s planning committee because of a petition signed by 34 people. Cllr Andrew Hodson opposed the application arguing the extensions would be “of a size that is totally out of character with the lane” and would lead to neighbours having “their lives blighted if this application goes through” and “no privacy in their bedrooms”.
He said one neighbour felt they were going to have to shut their curtains, adding people were going to be “daunted by this very large building looking down on them”.
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Alan Jones, one neighbour, raised concerns about whether the extension would be too close to buildings nearby and accused the application of being misleading. He said they would have “the oppressive feeling of constantly being overlooked which takes its toll,” adding: “This will change how we feel day to day.”
David Swift, a representative for the Heswall Society, said the plans would have a negative effect on the area and “an overdevelopment of the site,” adding: “We consider it to be the equivalent of trying to put a quart in a pint pot.”
However Rebecca Hilton from Eden Planning, the planning application’s agent, defended the plans pointing out the extensions were for bedrooms for the Morton’s children as well as an accessible bedroom for a parent. She said the concerns had already been addressed.
She said the materials and design had been chosen specifically to fit in with the area and the changes would have little impact on the view from the road. Any construction would be done “sensitively and with regard to neighbours”.
The plans were eventually approved by councillors eight to one. Heswall councillor Kathy Hodson raised concerns about the potential loss of a hedge and argued it was impossible for councillors to understand the impact of the development on neighbours unless you looked at the property from the back.
However, Cllr Jason Walsh-McDonald argued there was no legal reason to reject the application though they “appreciate how it might feel”. Cllr Steve Foulkes said he felt “there has been some over exaggeration” though he had some sympathy for those concerned, adding that his first thought “was what is all the fuss about”.