A DECISION to build a new four-bed home on green space next to a bungalow which was refused by the city council has been overturned by a government inspector.

Worcester City Council’s planning committee rejected the plan to build a two-storey four-bedroom home in Nunnery Lane off Spetchley Road next to a bungalow known as Rose Villa in May.

Applicant Jabran Khalid successfully appealed to the government's planning inspectorate looking to overturn the refusal.

Government planning inspector RC Kirby said that whilst the plan did clash with the policies in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), it would not have any more of an impact than a garage that already had permission to be built on the land.

The site was designated as green space in the SWDP - land that extends along the rear of the gardens along Nunnery Lane and Spetchley Road which link to the larger green space of Worcester Woods and the playing fields at Nunnery Wood.

The inspector's report said: “The new dwelling would sit in a spacious plot, be of an attractive design and its relationship to the highway and nearby dwellings would respect the spacious and attractive qualities of the area.

“Although the proposal would reduce the amount of open green space in this location, that reduction would not be significantly greater to that which would result if the garage/annexe building were constructed upon the site.

“Accordingly, the proposal would not significantly change the essential character and appearance of the area over and above the permitted scheme on the site.

“Open, undeveloped space around the building would be retained and views across the appeal site to the wider area of green space beyond would be apparent from Nunnery Lane.”

During the city council's planning committee meeting last May, Councillor Chris Cawthorne said if the plan was approved it could be “opening up the floodgates” to a whole new road behind Spetchley Road.

The development fell within a previous planning permission granted by the council for the current bungalow which stated the green space must be landscaped and kept as a garden only and should not be developed on.

A number of objections were raised by neighbours who feared they would lose privacy from the new home.

Some neighbour comments stated the green space to the side of the bungalow used to be an orchard and were under the impression that new trees would be planted when planning permission was granted for the bungalow.

Neighbours were also concerned by an increase of cars in Nunnery Lane which would contribute to congestion on the already busy Spetchley Road.