A LARGE garage block has been allowed for garden near Durley.

Chris Southcott. director of property developers Imperial Homes South, applied for permission for the four-bay garage with a gym and office at Maxwell House, Mincingfield Lane.

City councillors on the planning committee expressed surprise at the size of the building, construction of which has already started. It is not the building on the right of the photo.

Cllr Frank Pearson said of the plans: “The garage looks bigger than the house. Its sheer size is mind-boggling. It really is massive. The question is, is it going to stay a garage?"

The planning committee heard that a condition of approving the scheme was that it must always be ancillary to the house meaning it cannot be converted into a separate house.

Cllr David McLean said: “It is a big building but I have seen other big buildings of a similar size being passed by the planning officers. It is a big building but just because it is big doesn’t mean it should not get permission.”

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the scheme.