Hackbridge residents had previously voiced their objections to a planning application for the retention of a pergola at 19 Calico Avenue. The Sutton Council Planning Committee met on Wednesday 06 August 2025 to discuss the application, referenced as DM2024/00995, among others, following the receipt of multiple objections.

Residents are able to raise concerns about planning applications by notifying the Committee Support officer by midday on the day of the meeting, or at the meeting at least 15 minutes before it is due to start, as detailed in the Agenda. A site notice was erected adjacent to the site on 10 September 2024.

The application sought permission for the retention of a single-storey pergola already constructed at the rear of the property. According to the Public Reports Pack, the pergola measures 3m in depth, 4m in width, and 2.5m in height, featuring a flat roof design with aluminium posts and openable louvres, coloured dark grey to match the existing windows and doors of the building.

Map showing the location of 19 Calico Avenue, Hackbridge, the site of a pergola planning application.
Map showing the location of 19 Calico Avenue, Hackbridge, the site of a pergola planning application.

The application was brought before the Planning Committee due to the receipt of seven letters of objection and a petition containing 11 signatures. Concerns raised by residents, as detailed in the Committee Report, included:

  • The proposal would be out of character with the site and area.
  • There would be a loss of light to No 17 Calico Avenue and 26 Thimble Crescent.
  • There would be a visual obstruction / loss of views to no.17.
  • The pergola was constructed without any prior consultation with neighbouring residents.
  • The application inaccurately describes the pergola as having been completed in 2020, when in fact, it was newly constructed in late April 2024.
  • The construction of this pergola has heightened security concerns within the community.
  • The pergola's size and positioning raise doubts about its structural integrity, particularly during adverse weather conditions.

The Committee Report addresses these concerns, stating that the pergola's dimensions are relatively modest and that the dark grey materials match the existing host and surrounding dwellings, including the colour of existing window and door frames. The council determined that the pergola was not 'out of character' because the proposed development would be of an acceptable scale, bulk and design...[and] the structure appears as suitably subordinate to the application property.

The report also notes that the modest depth and height of the pergola, coupled with its open sides, would ensure that there would not be any material loss of light and outlook to the neighbour at No.17. Regarding the concerns of No. 26 Thimble Crescent, the report states that the pergola maintains a distance of 0.4m to the rear boundary fence and a further 9m to the rear building line, ensuring no loss of light or outlook to that property.

The report also addresses the procedural matters, noting that lack of communication between homeowners carrying out development and the neighbours is not a breach of planning regulations, and that there is scope within the Planning Act that allows for retrospective applications to be submitted.

Regarding security and safety issues, the report states that extensions and structures set within the rear of houses are a common form of development, and that given the setting of the pergola in the rear enclosed garden with no public access, security concerns would be negligible. The applicant's agent stated in support of the application that: The pergola is a purpose designed product with 5 years warranty and was installed by the supplier to ensure it is constructed and installed to manufacturer requirement and fit for purpose and will be structurally stable as a garden shelter furniture.

The report also notes that structural matters cannot be considered within the remit of town planning legislation.

The Planning Committee ultimately voted to grant planning permission for the pergola, subject to conditions outlined in Appendix B of the Committee Report. These conditions stipulate that the approved development shall be carried out in accordance with the specified drawings and details, including the Design & Access Statement and various plan numbers, and that the development must be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the FIRE SERVICE SITE PLAN and FIRE PLAN.

The following Sutton Local Plan 2018 Policies were considered: Policy 28 Character and Design, Policy 29 Protecting Amenity, and Policy 36 Transport Impact. The following Supplementary Planning Documents were also considered: SPD4 The Design of Residential Extensions.