East Woodhay family win planning permission to accommodate son's needs

Jason Bayliffe, the father of 11-year-old George Bayliffe, who is quadriplegic and has cerebral palsy, global development delay and visual impairment, saw his and his wife’s application approved at a February 13 planning meeting in Basingstoke, to demolish a bungalow in Knights Lane, East Woodhay and build a chalet style house, to include carer’s accommodation, hydro pool, wet and physio rooms.
The couple have battled to win planning permission for accommodation to suit their son’s needs since last year, when an initial application for a four bedroom, two storey detached house on the site, after demolishing the bungalow, was turned down.
A total 11 objections were received to the latest application, and neighbour, Brian Johnson, who spoke for a group of neighbours at the meeting, said the plans would result in a building larger than any other on the road, and overdevelop the site.
Pointing out many neighbouring properties were two storey houses, Mr Bayliffe said :”Our house isn’t different to any others and we are really disappointed as a family at the number of objections from neighbours,” adding neighbours had been consulted on the plans for his son’s needs, which were likely to increase in the future.
Councillors said the plans were suitable for the location: “It will add to the street scene, rather than seeing row after row of bungalows,” said borough councillor, Clive Sanders (Con East Woodhay), who said the couple had addressed the issue of the height and mass of the house in the initial application.
“It is now going to be distanced from neighbouring properties and lowered at ground and eaves level and is therefore far less intrusive,” said Mr Sanders.
Councillors approved the application, which also received a total 11 letters in support, with comments including that it would not result in extra traffic, the bungalow to be demolished was not of architectural merit and Knights Lane was family orientated.