Whitby holiday let appeals refusal of unauthorised outdoor decking
An appeal has been lodged by the owners of a Whitby holiday let after their unauthorised outdoor decking was refused by the council.
Mr and Mrs Ove and Grethe Andresen have appealed to the Secretary of State against North Yorkshire Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for outdoor decking, councillors have been told.
The proposal was refused earlier this year because of the ‘unacceptable’ impact it would have on the town’s conservation area, planning officers said.
The retrospective application had sought to “regularise” the construction of raised timber decking at the holiday let property in Whitby.
The applicants said that “the development supports the continued residential and holiday use of Kirkby House at Long Steps, Church Street, which is consistent with prevailing patterns of occupation in this part of Whitby”.
In a letter to councillors, North Yorkshire Council said it would forward to the Planning Inspectorate all the representations made to which will be considered by the Inspector when determining the appeal.
According to the inspectorate’s website, the appeal is now closed for comment and is awaiting a site visit by an inspector.
The applicants had previously stated that the outdoor decking “provides private outdoor amenity space in a location constrained by steep topography and limited garden provision”.
However, planning officers described it as “a private benefit ” with “no advantages to the wider public that would outweigh the visual harm caused by the boundary treatment”.
A planning report published earlier this year also highlighted that the property “already benefited from a much smaller timber side balcony”.
The report added: “It is emphasised that the area holds great significance with regard to the Whitby conservation area and, as such, the use of materials is an important factor in relation to the character of the area.
“It is noted in the assessment that poor-quality boundary treatment can have an adverse impact on the character of the conservation area.”
The appeal is currently being assessed by the Planning Inspectorate which has not set a date for a decision.