# Serif House, 10 Dudley Street, Luton

- **Decision:** dismissed, 25 September 2026
- **Decided by:** Planning Inspector: E Everitt
- **Authority:** Luton (East of England)
- **Appeal reference:** 6009487
- **Application reference:** 25/01306/FUL
- **Procedure:** written-representations
- **Development:** Raised roof, first-floor side extension and six dormers to convert an office building to four flats
- **Homes:** 4
- **Site context:** inside-settlement, PDL
- **Green Belt:** no
- **Framework applied:** August 2026 NPPF
- **Determinative policies:** DP3(3), S4(2)(c), L2(1)(d), S4
- **Development plan policies:** Luton Local Plan 2011-2031 LLP10, LLP15, LLP19, LLP25, LLP30, LLP31, LLP37, Appendix 2, Appendix 6
- **Main issues:** character and appearance and CA setting, future occupiers' living conditions, neighbours' living conditions, BNG
- **Tags:** s4-within-settlement, s4-substantially-outweighed, s4-2-c-refusal-policy, dp3-refuse-trigger, design-refusal, living-conditions, flat-conversion, upward-extension, heritage-no-harm, conservation-area-setting, bng-exemption, small-scheme, parties-consulted-on-2026-framework

## Summary
Raising the roof of a two-storey Luton office building and adding a side extension and dormers to create four flats. The enlarged building would be incongruous in the street, and the flats would be sub-standard in space, privacy and outdoor amenity. The DP3 conflict was not clearly justified, and with the L2(1)(d) failure the benefits were substantially outweighed under S4. Dismissed.

## Issues and findings
- **Transition.** Parties invited to comment (DL ¶4).
- **Character.** "the proposed development would fail to integrate with its surroundings and would appear incongruous in the streetscene, particularly when viewed in conjunction with No 12" (DL ¶8).
- **CA setting.** "the development would have a negligible effect on the contribution that the CA’s setting makes to its significance" (DL ¶11).
- **Future occupiers.** Even if NDSS were broadly met, "the development would, nevertheless, result in sub-standard internal accommodation" (DL ¶16).
- **Housing weight.** "although the provision of housing attracts substantial weight, overall, this matter attracts moderate weight in favour of the proposed development" (DL ¶38).
- **Location.** A benefit, "consistent with the support within Policies L3 and TR3 of the Framework for making efficient use of land in well-connected locations" (DL ¶39).
- **L2 and DP3.** "I find that the proposal would fall wholly short of these requirements of the Framework. I attach substantial weight to this conflict" (DL ¶41).
- **DP3(3) / S4(2)(c): FAIL.** "On the basis that this conflict has not been clearly justified, it, in accordance with the provisions of part 3 of Policy DP3, represents a reason to refuse planning permission." (DL ¶42).

## Planning balance
S4 with the S4(2)(c) trigger: "the benefits of the proposal would be substantially outweighed by its adverse effects" (DL ¶43). Plan-led conclusion (DL ¶44).

## What made the difference
The loss of the visual pairing with No 12 and the break in the rhythm of building heights, together with poor internal and external space. L2's substantial weight to airspace and brownfield homes is conditional on consistency with the streetscene and acceptable living conditions, which the scheme failed.

## Transferable points
- L2's substantial weight for making better use of buildings and airspace depends on L2(1)(d): streetscene, safe access, living conditions and external amenity (DL ¶40-41).
- HO7 substantial weight can be tempered to moderate overall for a small contribution of poor-quality homes (DL ¶38).
- A clear DP3(3) sentence: the conflict "has not been clearly justified", so it is a reason to refuse under S4(2)(c) (DL ¶42).

## Policy findings
- **DP3(1): conflict (substantial weight).** enlarged roof and dormers break the rhythm of heights and the pairing with No 12; incongruous and unduly prominent (DL 8-10, 41)
- **DP3(3): fail.** explicit - the DP3 conflict has not been clearly justified, so it is a reason to refuse (DL 42)
- **L2(1)(d): fail (substantial weight).** additional homes must be consistent with the streetscene and give acceptable living conditions and external amenity space; scheme falls wholly short (DL 40-41)
- **P3: harm.** mapped; sub-standard internal space, stacking noise, no privacy for Flat 1, no private outdoor space for Flats 3-4, cramped bins and cycles (DL 15-26)
- **HE9: neutral.** in setting of High Town CA; negligible effect, character and appearance preserved (DL 11)
- **HO7: benefit (moderate weight).** four homes attract substantial weight in principle but, because of the small contribution and poor standard, moderate overall (DL 38)
- **TR3: benefit (moderate weight).** good access to services and public transport, with L3 efficient use and economic benefits, moderate weight (DL 39)
- **S4: fail.** benefits substantially outweighed; S4 does not point to permission (DL 37, 42-43)

## Key facts
- BNG de minimis exemption applies; site entirely hardstanding (DL 31-32)
- Neighbours' living conditions not harmed (DL 30)
- Appellant's offer of amendments or conditions could not overcome harm without fundamentally altering the scheme (DM3, DM6) (DL 34)

## Sources
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/appeals/6009487
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/published-document/c2e71f4e-0736-45e3-94fc-f1e0a5d052d7

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Source: https://planningdistilled.org/research/england/nppf-navigator/decisions/PINS-6009487.html

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