PLANNING chiefs have refused an application for a controversial home in Winchester following a site visit.

Councillors had decided it was not possible to decide on the plans without visiting the site at the rear of 17 North Walls.

It was refused due to its adverse effect on the neighbouring properties.

The application by John Piper involved the redesign of the building from a two-storey house to one with a combination of flat-roofed, single-storey sections.

The application was reported to committee due to the number of objections it received.

Among the objections were concerns that the property could worsen problems with flooding in the area, and that it would result in overshadowing.

At the planning committee meeting prior to the decision to visit the site, Jon Brown, of 16 North Walls, said: " It will have severe and adverse impact on various issues including loss of view and sunlight from the back of our house. We would lose a lot of light to the kitchen. The children's bedrooms would become more dark and boxed in.

"Our garden already struggles for light. This will darken an already very dark garden even impacting fruit trees, my workspace, and many aspects of our family life."

However, agent Jeremy Tyrrell said the proposal was, "modest in size."

"The design and layout is simple and logical. This application proposal is a high-quality development," he said.

In the application, the City of Winchester Trust described the proposal as, "an ingenious design which would replace a broken down mobile home."