PLANS to demolish a garage and erect a single-storey side extension, along with a loft conversion, have been given the green light.

The application for the site, on Laffak Road, Carr Mill has been approved subject to conditions.

The property is a detached bungalow located in a primarily residential area, according to the officer report.

Meanwhile, the officer report highlighted that paragraph nine of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that planning decisions should play an "active role" in guiding development towards sustainable development, but in doing so "should take local circumstances into account to reflect the character, needs and opportunities" of each area.

St Helens Star: The site on Laffak RoadThe site on Laffak Road (Image: St Helens Council)

 

It adds: “Paragraph 11 states that planning decisions should apply a presumption in favour of sustainable development.

“This means approving development proposals that accord with an up-to-date development plan without delay; or where the development plan is absent, silent or out of date planning permission should be granted unless the application of policies in the NPPF that protect areas or assets of particular importance provides a clear reason for refusing the development proposed; or any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the NPPF taken as a whole.”

As part of the conditions, the works permitted must begin within three years of the date of the decision notice, and external finishes shall be in materials that ‘match, or closely harmonise with, the existing finishes’.