Neighbors object to Sandbanks garage conversion into a home, citing height and planning concerns.
Instead, Mullins replaced the garage’s flat roof with a large, pitched structure. He said the old roof was leaking and in bad shape. He put a pitched roof on to make it last longer.
Now, he wants to turn the garage into a house, citing the new roof as the reason. Plans show one house using the roof space.
The ground floor would have a small garage, holding one car and three bikes. A narrow hall leads to a bathroom and kitchen. Upstairs would have bedrooms and a living area. The only windows are four skylights.
The application says the building’s footprint stays the same. The council may have no reason to refuse, but experts think it’s too small for full-time living. It might be a holiday home or rental, and its location means it could be worth over £1 million.
A neighbor, Laurence Tucker, objects to the plans. He thinks Mullins is trying to make it a home and says Mullins has been trying for six years. He claims water and electricity are already installed, and the building does not function only as a garage.
The Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum also objects, stating the plans are not acceptable. They want a new home within the current space, and feel the current plan does not create a suitable dwelling. They stated the garage appearance is unsatisfactory.
The old garage was about 10 feet tall, but the new roof doubles the height to 20 feet. The Chapel of St Nicholas is next door, and the church objected to past plans, saying the plans would block light.
Reverend Andrew O’Brien is more accepting now. He questioned why a garage needed a pitched roof, but feels the plan is a better development. He will keep an eye on it and would object if it got any taller.
Mullins’ agent says the plans don’t impact neighbors because skylights prevent privacy issues. The house will be larger than national standards, and an architect and engineer say it can be converted.