Homes plan is ‘alien and dominating’
BUNGALOW REVAMP SCHEME REJECTED BY COUNCILLORS
PLANS for a modern overhaul of an “ageing” bungalow in a Derbyshire village have been rejected due to the “alien” and “dominating” design.
The application, filed by Derby firm Elgie Group Ltd, would see a bungalow in Fishpond Lane, Egginton, turned into a six-bed house.
At a South Derbyshire District Council meeting, members were told that several extensions had already been added over the years. If approved, the bungalow would be covered in white rendering and clad with aluminium windows and doors.
Trisha Pegg, one of the applicants, said the would-be converted bungalow would be turned into a family home for her, her partner Sam and their four children.
She said the firm she and her partner run, Elgie Group Ltd, oversaw the creation of “high-quality developments” across the East Midlands, and had appeared on BBC TV series Homes Under the Hammer.
Ms Pegg said the family had lived in the area for years and said the chosen plot, next to the Catherine Johnathan playing field, was perfect for their “dream home”.
She said: “The family is already connected to the village and we want to live here for years to come.” Ms Pegg said the designs for the project were “much better” than the current bungalow.
Cllr Lisa Brown said the site is set in the former ancient kitchen garden of the old Egginton Hall, with an historic wall running along Fishpond Lane blocking the property from view. She said homes in the area were predominantly single-storey cottages and bungalows.
Cllr Brown said: “The proposal before us tonight conflicts brashly and abrasively (with neighbouring properties), it would dominate its neighbours in its current form, particularly with the alien form of grey and metallics.
“It has a total lack of respect for its neighbours. It is the wrong design in the wrong materials in the wrong location.”
She detailed that local policies were for extensions not to overpower the main building and to reflect existing properties and their materials – which are largely red brick.
Cllr Brown said: “The design is very large and almost industrial with imposing whites, greys and metallics. It has a dominating appearance, an overbearance, and it is contrary to our guidance on so many aspects.”
Cllr Robert Pearson said the scheme was “quite in contrast to the surrounding area”.
Steffan Saunders, the council’s head of planning, said there was “unstandable flexibility for owners to alter their properties to meet their taste”.
He said the plans were deemed acceptable by officers and the view from the roadside would be “minimised” due to the historic boundary wall.
Cllr Trevor Southered, deputy leader of the council, said: “There are several buildings with white render and grey attachments in the surrounding area, and several colleagues have commented on how attractive they are. The design doesn’t offend me.”