A CONTROVERSIAL plan to construct a new and taller workshop on the site of a former sawmill will be decided by councillors following complaints from neighbours.

The plan would see the new workshop replace an older outbuilding but neighbours have said it would be too tall and would block sunlight as well as disrupt their privacy.

Council planners have said the replacement building at Moseley Saw Mills off Moseley Road in Moseley on the edge of Hallow near Worcester, would be “significantly” bigger and the justifications for the increase in height from the applicant had not been proven.

Officers said it would be “oppressive, overbearing and dominant” and had not considered the impact it would have on neighbours. They recommended the plan should be refused by councillors when they meet later this evening.

A similar plan to build an outbuilding on the land was refused by Malvern Hills District Council planners last year but the decision was subsequently overturned on appeal by a government planning inspector in May.

Despite having permission for a new building, another planning application was submitted because the new building would be taller than the current one.

Droitwich-based Merrington Project Services said increasing the height of the new building was necessary because the applicant wants to install solar panels on the roof for the new building as well as his house but officers say no evidence has been provided to back up that claim.

Council planners also said the ‘fall-back’ plan of constructing the building allowed following the government appeal also contained inaccuracies over size.

One neighbour, who has objected to the planning application, said they could not support the building being made any taller as it was already big enough which was already “significantly detrimental” to the enjoyment of their own home.

“I cannot support the height of this building being raised further,” the objection said.

“The building spans half of our back garden in length and the proposed rise in height will further affect sunlight at times.

“The reason given for the change in roof height is to accommodate solar panels which could easily be placed on the house.”

Malvern Hills District Council’s planning committee meets from 6pm this evening (October 7) to make a decision.