Bungalow plan rejected in Worcester

A plan to build new bungalows across two back gardens has been turned down by the council.

The proposal would have seen three new bungalows built behind two existing homes off Bath Road in Worcester.

Planners at Worcester City Council said the bungalows were “inappropriate” and would be “intrusive and detrimental” as well as “uncharacteristic.”

Officers also said they could not justify losing green space to make way for the bungalows.

A report outlining the refusal from the council said: “The proposed dwellings would fail to respect the character of and would have no regard to the feel and appearance of the plot and wider character of the western side of Bath Road.

“The three dwellings would be harmful to the visual quality and the natural qualities of the green space.

“The proposed development would result in a harmful loss of outlook and increased sense of enclosure of the neighbouring property [in] St Marks Close.”

The planning application “acknowledged” the conflict with the council’s green space policy but said the land was “not open or local green space” and had not been earmarked to be “protected, restored or enhanced.”

Objections were by some neighbours in Bath Road and St Mark’s Close against the plan saying that building the new homes would ruin their privacy.

Other objectors said they were concerned that allowing homes to be built in back gardens in Bath Road would set a precedent that would eventually ruin the privacy of several other neighbours.

“The proposal shows houses with windows overlooking the rear of adjoining properties on Bath Road and St Mark’s Close,” an objection from Toby DuPont of Bath Road said.

“If approved, this risks setting a precedent for similar properties along Bath Road, which, if similarly developed, would impact the privacy of additional neighbouring properties.

“The established pattern of development is predominantly of semi-detached and detached dwellings which front Bath Road. The proposed development would result in an uncharacteristic concentration of built form behind the host property and would fail to integrate with the pattern of development in the surrounding green space.”