We have some great news; 77th Audley have now been given permission to build the extension to their meeting place.
This article is from The Sentinel.
LEADERS of a scout group are celebrating after plans to extend their hall were given the go-ahead following an appeal.
The 77th Audley Scout Group can now build a 30-square-metre two-storey extension at its hall in Wereton Road, Audley.
The planned improvements, which include an upgraded kitchen, the installation of disabled toilets and the soundproofing of the hall, were thrown out by Newcastle Borough Council in February.
The rejection came amid concerns the building would impact on the privacy and sunlight of a neighbouring property.
But in overturning the council’s decision, Government planning inspector Martin Seddon ruled there would be “no significant impact on the residential amenity” of neighbours.
He said: “The main issue is the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupants of a neighbouring property in respect of privacy, outlook and received daylight and sunlight neighbours.
“There would be no significant increased loss of outlook from the nearest ground floor lounge window of the property from the proposed extension.
“The proposed extension would cause some increase in the loss of daylight and afternoon sunlight to the rear ground floor lounge window.”
But he added: “I find that the increased loss of daylight, and sunlight in the afternoon period, would not be so significant as to cause harm to the living conditions of the occupiers and insufficient reason to dismiss the appeal.”
Concerns about the impact an extended building would have on traffic in Wereton Road were also thrown out.
The hall was originally built as two terraced houses which were never completed and the scout group bought the property in 1956.
It hosts four weekly meetings of beavers, cubs and scouts which attract more than 50 youngsters.
It also serves as the base for about a dozen explorer scouts from Madeley and Audley who are aged 14 to 18 and working toward their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards.
The group had found itself needing to hire bigger venues to cope with demand and needed the extension to improve facilities and storage .
Explorer group leader Karen Jennings said she was delighted the council’s refusal had been overturned.
“It was so heart-breaking when the application was rejected,” she said.
“We are celebrating 100 years of scouting in Audley this month and you can imagine how many children have benefited from the building over that time, and how many will continue to benefit.
“The group is a hugely important part of the community for the children, who will go on to be adults in the community.
“It’s relief more than anything that justice has prevailed.”