Eco Home Appeal Success

• Posted by David Jones on 10th Dec ’09 at 13:14 UTC
• 0 comments

Evans Jones LLP wins appeal for Eco Home.

Evans Jones LLP secures consent at appeal for a proposed Eco Home within the rear garden of 83 Cheltenham Road, Gloucester.

Gloucester City Council refused consent on the basis that the development would have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area and the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers.

The Eco Home was specifically designed to suit the particular circumstances found on site. This imaginative proposal limited the impact upon adjoining residents and demonstrates that a high quality design solution which responds to the site opportunities and constraints has a much better chance of success.

Too often we see schemes designed with scant regard to the site constraints, too frequently designers ‘air lift’; standard house types in the false hope that consent will follow.

This appeal decision Appeal Decision demonstrates the importance of employing an experienced and imaginative architect who is capable of producing a high quality scheme responding to the site constraints

Sara Bagshaw Senior Planner and appeal specialist comments

“The refusal of consent was not supported by robust policy; the appeal submissions demonstrated that the local authority had been inconsistent in the determination of similar applications in the area and failed to have proper regard to national and local policy guidance.

Local authorities continue to grapple with the dilemma of making best use of previously developed land versus the release of green field sites and urban extensions.

The polices and commitments of the City Council seek to promote sustainable development, regrettably offices failed to appropriately apply the same policy commitments.

Garden schemes are often unpopular with neighbours who understandably would prefer no change, such a stance is however unsustianable and planning is about managing change without causing unacceptable harm to any interests of acknowledged importance.

To have the best chance of securing consent it is essential that both the design solution and planning strategy is considered from the onset”.

The Eco home in this case incorporated a range of innovative design solutions including , hempcrete walling, lime render, heat exchanger/whole house ventilation system, natural insulation, solar panels, heat pumps, triple glazing, photo voltaic panels thermal massing, use of reclaimed materials and sourcing of new materials from sustainable resources.

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