BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council has given permission for a resident to extend his family home in Highclere despite concerns the property will be to big for the area.

A planning application was submitted to the council in relation to a property on Pirates Cottage, Tubbs Lane in Highclere. It asked to extend a three-bedroom home into four and to add a porch.

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Mike York from Highclere Parish Council said: “This application represents the smoke and mirrors of the planning process. The history of it is interesting and the first phase faced tremendous local opposition, in a small village there was significant opposition, and when the next phase came through with the design of the house there was again tremendous opposition to that.

“In the original planning statement, it was noted the small proposal could make a worthwhile contribution to stock smaller dwellings in the village, but now small has become big and it has now gone from a three to a four-bedroom house.

“What Highclere needs is smaller houses.”

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Speaking on behalf of the applicant Martin Runcie said: “The application is to simply increase above the single-story element and add a porch. The increase in number of bedrooms is a requirement for his family.”

Councillors on the development control committee agreed to approve the application.

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