Roof-top garden rejected over privacy concerns

A BID to build a roof-top garden on a Salterton Road flat, previously rejected by district planners because of concerns over neighbours’ privacy, has been rejected by Government inspectors.

A BID to build a roof-top garden on a Salterton Road flat, previously rejected by district planners because of concerns over neighbours’ privacy, has been rejected by Government inspectors.

The owner of Flat 6, Aliston House, had applied to use the existing first floor flat roof area and build a privacy screen and enclose the area with a steel and glass balustrade.

However the application was recommended refusal by the town hall with the application duly refused by the district council because of concerns about noise and that it would over look neighbours.

The decision was challenged on appeal and the applicant took it to the planning inspectorate – but Inspector BJ Juniper upheld the original decision.

The inspector said: “The main issue is the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupiers of nearby dwelling with particular regard to privacy and noise.

“Flat 6 is at first floor level and the proposal would involve the use of the whole of an existing flat roofed area above Flat 2 as a balcony.

“While the distance of the balcony from the houses to the east and across Sarlsdown Road and to the south would be such as to ensure mutual privacy is retained, I am concerned that there would be a clear view from the balcony into the front facing windows of Flat 9, which is at first floor level, and Flat 4 below it.

“There would also be an oblique view into a side facing window of Flat 1, on the ground floor to the west of the proposed balcony.”