Kenilworth resident granted permission to build on top of garage despite concerns from neighbours

A Kenilworth homeowner has been granted permission to build on top of a garage at the end of his garden - creating a bedroom, bathroom, office/games room and storage area in the process.

Neighbours to the development at the rear of 23 Mill End had objected, saying they feared the building could be used as living accommodation in the future but members of Warwick District Council’s planning committee gave plans the go ahead on Tuesday (January 12).

Concerns of some of those living nearby were raised by Cllr Rob Barry, of Kenilworth Town Council, who said the building work would create a considerable loss of amenity to neighbouring properties.

He added: “To place a two-storey house at the bottom of the gardens in this area clearly creates a visual intrusion and results in the neighbour losing the amenity that the original layout provides.”

But Gary Fisher, the council’s development services manager, said it was important to use the correct terminology.

He explained: “We need to be clear that this is not a proposal for a new house - it is a proposal for a separate building to be used in the same way as an extension

"It might be slightly unusual in that setting but does that make it unacceptable? Your officers don’t believe that it does. We are very comfortable that its use is incidental to the main dwelling.”

A report considered by members of the meeting explained that access to the garage was down a track between two properties in Forge Road which led to two blocks of garages as well as the one in the rear garden of 23 Mill End.

And while it admitted that the enlarged structure would be seen from a number of properties and their gardens, the report insisted that it would not look out of place.

It added: “Officers are also mindful that mutual overlooking is an established part of living within this area of the town where housing density is relatively high. Therefore it is not considered that the impact that the development will have on the privacy of the neighbours would warrant the refusal of this application. “

Councillors approved the plans by six votes to four with one member abstaining.