A planning row has erupted after a council approved a home redevelopment – despite neighbours raging against the proposals.
Richmond Council has given the go-ahead to a massive extension to a property in the affluent west London district of Twickenham.
The application, which has already been approved along 8 Ellesmere Road, will involve a part single-storey and two-storey side and rear extension.
But the construction work will not stop there. The new plans will also include pitched roofs and rooflights, as well as the removal of a chimney.
The tight-knit community was furious at the shocking extent of the plans and flagged concerns over the future impact on residents.
Resident Christopher Martin fought against the council plans, but to no avail.
Bryan Staff, acting as consultant for the applicant, and homeowner Mikaela Hedin managed to convince the council to pass the plans.
Houses in the area cost an overall average of £1million, experts at Rightmove said.
Members of the committee raised concerns over the two-storey rear extension in particular.
However, this part of the application had already been given the thumbs-up back in October last year for a wider extension proposal.
Councillors claimed that it was even an improvement on previous plans.
In a desperate bid to appease the disgruntled locals, the planning officers drafted a new condition which demands two lower roof lights for one of the bedrooms and the landing to be permanenty shut and flush with the roof.
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They claimed the clause was included "to protect the visual amenities of the property and area in general and so not unreasonably increase the level or perception of overlooking to neighbouring properties."
Despite the residents banding together to resist the plan, the council's report ceded that the proposed application is of "generous proportions".
It added: "However, owing to the site's individual context, it would respect the character and form of the existing house, Ellesmere Road and the Ravensbourne Road and East Twickenham Character Areas."
The application for the extensive construction was pushed through while, last year, a family's attempt to build a "granny house" was binned off by the council
Applicants Mrs Saira Iqbal and Mr Umer Farooq were hoping to build a small, single-storey annexe attached to the back of their home for an elderly family member.
However, the council complained about reasons regarding its design, as well as waste and affordable housing issues.
In application, the individuals said: "The purpose of the annexe is to provide independent yet connected accommodation for an elderly family member, enabling supported living while maintaining close family ties."
Adding that they would not sell the small annexe or let it out, they promised the home would only have a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, small living area and a "low-profile dual or mono-pitch roof to minimise visual impact".
Yet, a Council planning officer said: "By reason of its location, design, mass, size, scale and form, the proposal would overdevelop the application site and fail to positively respond to the established historic pattern of development in the host locality."
