Fears over use of shed as home

COUNCILLORS are concerned that a shed could be turned into a home.

Peter Sabba, from Hillingdon, has applied to South Oxfordshire District Council for retrospective planning permission to erect a 20ft by 16ft shed on land on the northwest side of Icknield Way in Lewknor.

The shed would be made out of wood and painted green with metal roofing sheets and white uPVC
windows.

Lewknor Parish Council has raised concerns about the potential for the shed to be turned into a habitable space.

It said: “It is a retrospective application in that the shed is already in situ.

“In the opinion of the councillors, it was felt that the structure, while being of wooden construction, appears to be more than a shed given it is insulated and has uPVC sealed unit windows which would suggest that it could be used as a habitable structure.

“The detail on the application states that this is for tools, shelter to livestock and a place to sit out of the elements, although it looks to be of a more permanent nature being erected on concrete footings and not what would traditionally be regarded as a storage building.

“The council would therefore like to record its concerns that this may well become a habitable building at some point in the future and certainly has the potential to become such and that this should be regarded as a concern when a planning decision is reached.

“We would also like to suggest that if the planning officer is minded to grant this application it may be appropriate to attach a condition to safeguard against this usage.”