CITY councillors have approved a large house in place of a dilapidated bungalow in a village near Winchester.

Phil Carr's plan for a neo-Georgian mansion at The Haven, School Lane, Headbourne Worthy, had attracted opposition.

The plan came before the planning committee in January and was deferred for a site visit by members of the planning committee.

Councillors were being recommended to approve the plan by their own officer, as according to a report, "it is considered that there would be no significant harm to the character and appearance of the area or upon neighbour amenity".

READ MORE HERE: Plans for mansion in Headbourne Worthy

But the committee heard there were objections.

Neighbour Chris Welland said the new house would overlook his home.

Mr Welland, of School Lane, told the committee: "It is overbearing and will have a disproportionate impact on neighbours and impair our enjoyment of our property."

Belinda Baker, clerk of Headbourne Worthy Parish Council, said the new house would intrude into the settlement gap between Headbourne Worthy and Winchester.

Applicant Phil Carr said his house would be some distance, 50m, from Mr Welland's and there will be landscaping between the houses.

Mr Carr, a company director, said Mr Welland's house on School Lane had no screening along School Lane and passers-by could see into the garden.

Planning committee chairman Therese Evans said the size of the proposed house concerned her but added a precedent had been set with the nearby Orchard development. "The new house is higher and larger than what it is replacing. I don't understand how we allowed that (Orchard) development (in 2013)."

Cllr Frank Pearson said: "This is worrying in a couple of aspects. The major concern is the sheer size of the replacement building, " adding it was double the size of the bungalow".

In the end, the committee agreed unanimously to approve the proposal.