A CONTROVERSIAL planning application for Whitchurch has been granted despite opposition from an officer.

The application, which details plans to extend Brushwood bungalow in The Lynch into a four-bedroom house, was passed through by members of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s development control committee.

The plans would see another floor added to the current one storey building as well as a rear extension and the integration of a front bay window.

However the decision to accept the plans, which only three councillors opposed, has been questioned by representatives of the town who claim it went against the advice of the authority’s conservation officer.

In the original report to the council, the officer recommended the application be refused, saying: “The proposals would have a significant adverse impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area and as such would fail the statutory test that requires development within conservation areas to preserve or enhance their character or appearance.”

The application has also faced objection from Whitchurch Town Council and from borough Councillor Keith Watts who was critical of the committee’s decision to go against the officer’s advice.

He said: “The conservation officer wrote a long report attacking the plans, but only five lines or so were reported at the meeting.

“I’m pretty angry about the council not following the officer’s advice.

“Usually the development control committee is very good but this time they seem to have lost their sense.”