PLANS to breathe new life into a tired five-bedroom house have been given the green light.

Polly Lane's application to demolish part of Earlsdown, her Northbrook Avenue dwelling, and build an extension were met with 33 objections.

This caused it to go before a city council committee, but she was the only public speaker to show up on May 26.

She said: "We have a small family and want to bring this beautiful home back to life. It has gotten into a bit of a ruin over the years."

Ms Lane added: "The home needs to be restored to its former glory – which is a place for a family to live. It has five bedrooms and is extremely top heavy.

"When we bought it we were told it is top heavy and that we will need to extend it, which is why it does need to stretch out to the side to ensure we have enough living space.

"We've worked really hard and considered the surrounding environment to come up with the most respectful plans possible, and to keep the building works as limited as possible.

"We love the area and want to be part of the community, and have listened to all of the objections, and have considered them all."

The City of Winchester Trust objected to the initial plans, and then objected the revised plans months later.

In a statement it said: "The Trust feels that this further revised application is acceptable in terms of scale and welcomes the recognition that a wooden fence on top of the brick and flint wall is not appropriate.

"However, we still consider that it is vital that any extension does not diminish the characteristics which make Earlsdown such an important building, and leaves the top of one window floating above the extension.

"Although we do not normally have any objection in principle to modern "glass box" extensions, in this case the Trust did feel that a more traditional design would enable a more sympathetic treatment of the character of Earlsdown."

Councillors (eight) unanimously approved the plans.

The walls of the extension will be built using a brick similar in tone to that of the existing house.

It will be visually separated to ensure subservience and the fascia of the roof is to be metal. The glazing is proposed to be Crittall in style, referencing the proportions of the existing sash windows found across the house.

The roof is to be repaired in kind and fascia and soffit boards will be replaced.