Garages and Outbuildings

Buildings within the residential curtilage such as garages, sheds and greenhouses will only be permitted where the building would be very subordinate in scale to the existing dwelling. As with extensions, the building should not adversely affect the character of the area, for example by being over-dominant or obtrusive. The Council will take account of the scale of the building in terms of both floorspace, height and the level of visibility of the building from the surroundings.

As with extensions to dwellings, it is important to ensure that buildings within the residential curtilage, whether in the front or rear gardens do not affect the privacy, sunlight or daylight provision to any neighbouring properties, and do not unduly restrict their outlook.

Buildings within the front gardens of properties will have to possess a scale and design appropriate to the character of the area. Incongruous designs may interrupt the street scene. To be acceptable, any outbuildings in front gardens should be unobtrusive in scale and design.

To ensure the highway is not blocked while the door is being opened, new garages or car ports which give access to the public highway should retain a 5 metre driveway within the residential curtilage. Those which give access to a shared private driveway should be at least one metre into the residential curtilage in order that the garage door does not cause an obstruction.