Kenilworth councillor gets go-ahead to render home despite planning officers recommending refusal

The application was heard by the planning committee this week
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A Kenilworth councillor is being allowed to render his home in the town even though planning officers said it would be out of keeping with others in the vicinity.

Cllr Richard Hales (Con, Kenilworth Abbey and Arden) had applied to Warwick District Council for permission to have the work done and because of his link with the council, the matter was heard by week’s [TUE] planning committee.

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Principal planning officer Lucy Hammond explained to committee members why the scheme had been recommended for refusal.

The plans were given the go-ahead this weekThe plans were given the go-ahead this week
The plans were given the go-ahead this week

She said: “The immediate streetscene here is characterised by red brick which is the reason why officers have recommended refusal for this application.

"Obviously if you go far enough you will find examples of render elsewhere and there are examples in neighbouring streets and roads.”

And Cllr Terry Morris (Con, Warwick Saltisford) issued a word of caution, saying: “We need to be fair and unbiased in whichever direction our decision goes.

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“This is in front of us because the applicant is a district councillor.

"If we go against officers’ recommendation which is to refuse and we say grant - just think about how that’s going to play out when it’s reported so I would advise proceeding with caution if we are going to go against officers’ recommendation.”

Cllr Hales spoke at the online meeting to explain that there were a wide range of property types in Rawnsley Drive where he lived - bungalows, semi-detached and detached - and that some of them were rendered.

He added: “The house was built in 1981 and the brickwork is looking tired. It is our belief that rendering will improve the look of the building.

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“Our view is that this application will modernise and make the street view more attractive.

"We totally accept that there is nothing similar in the eye-line although we do have a rendered wall opposite.”

He also mentioned that two neighbours had written in support of the application.

Ward member Cllr James Kennedy (Green, Kenilworth Park Hill) added: “I note, as others have noted and the two neighbours have commented, that there are a lot of alterations going on throughout the area, many of which involve rendering in some form or another with, I think, some very pleasing results for the streetscene and for the development of the area.”

Councillors voted five to three in favour of granting permission with one abstention.