The approval of self build plans for a home nestled between neighbours' gardens has sparked controversy with some locals claiming that even the planning committee opposed the plans.
Geraldine Parke, a nurse, secured planning permission to build her own home in Winkfield, Berkshire, on a small plot of land situated between neighbouring gardens.
However, the plans for the larger self build were initially rejected by councillors who claimed they were "rather unpalatable" eventually granted the initial and expanded plans, a decision neighbours described as "unbelievable".
What do the self build plans include?
Ms Parke had already been granted planning permission to build a one-storey house but asked Bracknell Forest Council if this could be extended to a two-storey, three-bedroom house with a chimney.
The house is on a small plot sitting between neighbour's gardens and will require trees to be removed.
Ms Parke claimed to have bought the plot with her life savings but told the council her plans for her "dream home" were "compromised" due to having to adhere to planning officer's advice to make the property smaller.
She said: "I have consulted all the way through this application and it has been quite taxing mentally when I was already exhausted from supporting us through the pandemic.
"I believe I meet the criteria that the government sets as well for key workers in the community and supporting people to self build. I just have to trust the process now."
Why were the plans allowed?
Despite the council's planning committee objections to the development on the small plot of land, the council eventually granted planning to allow the increased size of the build.
One councillor described infill houses (building on vacant land within an existing urban area) such as this one, as "rather unpalatable".
However, despite councillors objecting to the plans Councillor Tricia Brown, chair of the committee, explained: "I do not feel there is anything that we can refuse. I think it has complied with all the planning rules, local and national."
Neighbour's claim they 'cannot understand' the decision
Disgruntled neighbours said the decision from the council to approve the increased self build plans were "unbelievable".
One neighbour, Amanda Pottow, submitted an objection as she stated: "It is literally at the bottom of somebody's garden. There is no access, because this is a private lane.
"I never thought that would be approved in a million years. I know they do lots of infills, but that's not even really an infill. Most infills have access from the main road."
She also claimed the trees that would need to be cut down had existed since the 1850s and were planted by her grandmother.
Another neighbour stated: "It was disappointing that the councillors who did participate said that they did not agree with infills, but then approved it.
"I did not really understand that at all."
Lisa Weaver, another resident, said the committee's decision: "I still cannot understand how they all said they were against it and yet they approved it.
"Something is wrong there. We have lived here for 25 years, there used to be 11 of us and now there are 17 - when I first moved into this lane, we were a tiny little lane, very friendly."
