[2024] UKUT 00164 (LC)

The approved plan for RD2 shows the footprint of the original dwelling across the two plots, indicated by a faint broken line, and in plot B the footprint of proposal ND1A is indicated. RD2 has two bedrooms, a bathroom and ensuite shower room on the first floor. At ground floor is a large kitchen/dining/ family room, a living room, a study and a bathroom. At lower ground floor (basement) is a media room, a home gym, a utility room and shower room. The basement is only accessed internally, but the media room benefits from light created by a stepped terrace on the south east corner and the home gym from a light well at the south west corner.

The southern elevation of RD2, facing Kestor, has a hipped roof sloping away from the boundary, whereas the original cottage had a full height elevation up to the ridge. The ridge height of RD2 is 0.6m lower than the original tiled end section. At first floor the elevation is 4.87m from the boundary, compared with 4.5m before, and has one window as before, but in this case at high level. At ground floor the building is 1.74m closer to the boundary, being only 2.76m away. However, this single storey elevation has no door, unlike the original, and only one window at high level. On the rear elevation the original glazed garden room is replaced with a single storey lean-to structure facing out into the rear garden, away from Kestor. The gable end of the building and the single storey element closest to Kestor are 5.2m wide, compared with the original dwelling at 4.5m wide, but the other single storey elements to the south and north of the proposed dwelling add a further 5.6m of width to the structure.