Unauthorised conservatory allowed to stay at New Forest National Park home

A CONSERVATORY attached to a home in the national park without authorisation and against policy will not have to be demolished after permission was won on appeal.

A government inspector gave the go-ahead to the extension staying at Warwick Farmhouse, Beckley Road, Beckley, near Hinton, after the application by Mr T. Goode was initially rejected by the national park authority.

The report by inspector Christopher Miell agreed that the structure breached rules banning expansions of more than 30%, to preserve the stock of smaller homes.

But he explained that plans for a similar sized conservatory had been allowed by the NPA in the same spot in November last year – but with a 20cm gap between it and the house, with parallel doors offering access through the space.

That approved plan, he stated, was so similar in effect to the unauthorised version that had been connected onto the property that he ruled permission should be granted, despite the technical conflict with the rules.

Mr Miell noted that the NPA had argued approval would set an "undesirable precedent" but he disagreed, citing "material considerations" in this case.

Bransgore Parish Council had also objected to the conservatory.