Leeds '˜Millionaire's Row' plan for gym, snooker room and home cinema approved at appeal

The garden extension upset neighbours in Ling Lane, Scarcroft, before the North and East Plans Panel retrospectively refused it permission and Leeds City Council served an Enforcement Notice for its demolition.

Councillors deemed the Ling Beeches plan to be harmful to neighbour’s living conditions because of a loss of privacy, of sunlight and “overdominance”.

But members of the panel on Thursday noted that John Braithwaite, of the Planning Inspectorate, quashed the Enforcement Notice and granted permission.

In his judgement, Mr Braithwite said: “The most significant feature of this case is the trees that are on the plot. These and ground vegetation screen the building [in] views from Ling Lane and there are only glimpses of the building from other directions.”

In regard to concerns about the building affecting the area’s character, he added: “There is nothing particularly offensive about its design to merit refusal of the appeal.”

Mr Braithwaite imposed a condition that two east-facing first-floor windows on the incomplete plot overlooking a house on The Glade are blocked up.

Speaking after this week’s meeting, panel chairman Coun Neil Walshaw said that the applicant had lessened the site’s visibility by planting trees.

He added: “That’s a considerable expense. Clearly the applicant really wants to do their bit.”

The application was first submitted in November 2015 and revised in February last year.