PLANS to build a detached house on land neighbouring a Colden Common property have been refused by civic chiefs.

Adam Hill, of Skintle Green, applied to Winchester City Council for permission for a detached dwelling within the garden of his home.

The building would be a three-storey, four-bedroom home, built to the east of the existing house. The property would have had an internal area of 179m2, with the third floor to be constructed in the roof space to minimise the height of the building.

The proposal was going to be heard by the council planning committee on Wednesday, September 25. However, the application was deferred to Wednesday, November 14, where it was refused by the committee.

Peter Catchpole, of Skintle Green, objected to the application.

The property in Skintle GreenThe property in Skintle Green (Image: WCC) READ MORE: Winchester planners to discuss Colden Common garden house application

He told the committee: “What I would like to say is there have been a lot of objections to this. I have put them onto a chart to show the ones locally, so you can see there are quite a lot of local feeling against this. I have also charted the different addresses that have objected and the reasons why they have objected to show it is not just a single issue that people are objecting to. They are objecting to a wide range of issues to do with the development.”

Cllr Alex Loughran, from Colden Common Parish Council, also objected to the plans, calling it “overdevelopment”. He said: “The parish council objects to this application. The village has grown massively and successfully over the years. Colden Common has four significant features including oak trees, woodland, a network of ancient footpaths, and green spaces. The proposed infield development damages all four.”

Cllr Sue Cook, ward councillor for Colden Common, told the committee that while the proposed design is imaginative, it was out of character with the rest of the area, and that it was “trying to put a pint in a half pint glass”.

She said: “(Skintle Green) is a two-storey area and this application is three-storey, and it is overdevelopment, and it is harmful to the character of the area”.

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Philip Robinson, the agent for the application, argued: “I think the planning officers report summarises very well why the current proposals would be acceptable for the site in terms of design and massing. While there was a very clear visual style for the estate when it was first built, over the years it has been diluted by extensions and alterations and changes in materials as you can see.

“The only clearly defining attribute that remains is the large open greens to the buildings frontages, and because of the siting of our building they are not going to be impacted at all.”

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Cllr Vivian Achwal said: “I have concerns regarding the allocated parking. I do not think it is sufficient to be honest, because there are eight bedrooms now and could have up to eight cars. It is too narrow. So, I am not content with the parking.”

Cllr Jane Rutter said the development “would be overbearing and stick out like a sore thumb.”

The committee voted unanimously to refuse the application, due to it being contrary to policy.