Boldre homeowner’s appeal over dormer windows on garage is thrown out

A BOLDRE homeowner’s appeal to keep dormer windows on his garage and garden office has been dismissed by a government planning inspector.

The property, on Southampton Road, was subject to a successful 2019 planning application to create a detached four-bay garage with an office space above on the first floor.

It emerged that in order to secure planning permission the appellant was asked to change the plans so the first floor featured roof lights rather than dormer windows.

However, once complete the New Forest National Park Authority noted that dormer windows had been installed instead of the agreed rooflights.

Government planning inspector Robin Buchanan said: “It seems that the appellant did not contemplate that what appeared to him ‘a relatively minor change would present a major issue’, but that possibility was signposted by the (National Park) Authority from the outset.”

The appeal bid to retain the dormer windows was dismissed.