33 Sandringham Gardens Bournemouth BH9 3QW

1. 1.In the absence of a change of use application relating to the use of land outside the established residential curtilage as residential garden land, insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the development would avoid adverse effects on the Stour Valley landscape, the functioning of ecological networks, the protection and enhancement of biodiversity, the recreational and environmental value of the adjacent open space and the established landscape character of the area. As such, the Local Planning Authority is unable to undertake a meaningful assessment of the development’s potential implications against Policies CS30, CS31 and CS35 of the Bournemouth Local Plan (2012), which require proposals to safeguard biodiversity, protect open space, and avoid harm to ecological and environmental assets. The application therefore fails to satisfy the expectations of the NPPF (2024), which requires planning applications to be accompanied by adequate information to enable proper and proportionate assessment.
2. 2.In light of the massing, scale and siting of the extension, the development fails to comply with the Green Belt exception for extensions under paragraph 149(c) of the NPPF (2024). The proposal results in a disproportionate addition over and above the size of the original building, and its bulk and visual presence materially alter the proportions of the host dwelling. It does not read as a modest or subordinate enlargement and therefore constitutes inappropriate development under paragraph 153 of the NPPF. The extension also results in a perceptible reduction in both the spatial and visual openness of the Green Belt, contrary to paragraph 153 of the NPPF, which requires substantial weight to be given to any harm to the Green Belt and seeks to safeguard the countryside from encroachment. No very special circumstances have been demonstrated that would clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, loss of openness and conflict with Green Belt purposes. The development is therefore contrary to Policy CS37 of the Bournemouth Local Plan Core Strategy (2012) and Chapter 13 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
3. 3.The extension, by virtue of its excessive depth, height and massing, together with its boundary-to-boundary siting, results in a form of development that is disproportionate to the scale of the host dwelling and out of keeping with the uniform architectural character of the surrounding properties. The structure visually dominates the rear elevation, fails to maintain the required subservience to the original dwelling, and appears incongruous in an area where rear additions are typically modest in scale. The proposal therefore represents overdevelopment of the plot and conflicts with Policy CS41 of the Bournemouth Local Plan (2012) and the Council’s Residential Extensions guidance (2008), which require extensions to be compatible with their surroundings in terms of scale, bulk and height.
4. 4.The extension, due to its excessive height and proximity to the share boundary, results in an overbearing and visually intrusive form of development when experienced from the neighbouring property at No.31. The scale and proximity of the structure is considered to create an undue sense of enclosure and materially harm the outlook from the adjoining garden. As such, the proposal fails to safeguard neighbouring amenity and conflicts with Policy CS41 of the Bournemouth Local Plan and the Council’s Residential Extensions guidance (2008), which require development to protect the privacy, outlook and general amenity of adjoining occupiers.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

BH9 3QW

Application type

Householder

Scale / size

Small

Date validated

24 September 2025

Consultation expiry

9 January 2026

Consultation end

9 January 2026

Agent address

12 Darbys Lane Oakdale Poole BH15 3ER

Documents

7