Click here to see map for location of 2 Pine Hill.

18/00052/OUT Outline application (All matters reserved) for alteration and extension to building to facilitate change of use from 10 bedroom HMO property to 8 flats (Class C3).

2 Pine Hill is a large prominent house at the entrance to the Woodcote Estate, which has a consistent character of high quality two-storey detached houses on private well-maintained roads. An Environmental Character Study recommends that its character should be retained and enhanced. In its present ownership the house has deteriorated into a 10-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation, which is causing great concern in the area. An earlier proposal (17/00678/OUT) gave rise to much objection, including our own, and was withdrawn.

The revised proposal is to raise the height of the existing building with the addition of a new upper eaves floor to create eight 2- and 3-bedroom flats on three floors.

The Society remains concerned about the appropriateness of a large block of flats in what is otherwise an area of detached houses, and about the bulk of the proposed building which would be entirely out of keeping with the character of the Woodcote Estate.

The Society therefore suggests that the changes compared with the earlier proposal are not satisfactory and that the present application should also be refused.

See our letter here .