City council approves development in historic Winchester against expert advice (From Hampshire Chronicle)

City council approves development in historic Winchester against expert advice

2:41pm Monday 3rd December 2012 in Winchester

CITY councillors have approved building work in the heart of historic Winchester against the advice of planning experts.

A terrace on King Alfred Place has been the subject of a wrangle since the summer when the Locke family applied for a two-story extension to their home.

That application was rejected and a revised one was submitted.

The Victorian terrace is within Winchester's designated conservation area. Council officers recommended the proposal be rejected because the extension would be 'unduly prominent.'

But at a planning hearing councillors were satisfied with the alterations made to the plans after the initial rejection, and voted overwhelmingly to reject the officers' recommendations.