PLANS to build a house in Lower Wick, Worcester, have been given the go-ahead, despite neighbours’ concerns it could mark the beginning of the end for their estate’s “unique” character.

The outline planning application to build an unspecified dwelling in the garden beside 85 Canada Way drew a flurry of objections from neighbours as well as ward councillor Derek Prodger, who feared the development “would set a precedent which would result in the loss of other open spaces on this estate”.

Lower Wick was originally designed as an ‘open plan’ estate without boundary walls and fences, and neighbours told a meeting of Worcester City Council’s planning committee they feared putting a new house on one of the open street corners would diminish the area’s “unique” feel.

Objector John Shaw said: “Obviously we like living on the estate – we like the design and the character of it, particularly its open-plan appearance. We believe it’s one of the nicest laid-out estates in Worcester.

“When we saw the application from our neighbour we were all enraged about it. It violates the characteristics of the estate and runs against the principles it was designed on. This could open the floodgates to further applications on the estate.

“The covenant to my house says the fronts and sides will be left open – I’m not allowed to put up a shed or even grow a hedge.”

But city planning officers said the application did not contravene planning guidance, and that covenants were a separate issue, unrelated to planning permission.

Head of urban environment John Wrightson stated in his report: “I consider the site has sufficient capacity to accommodate a dwelling in an acceptable manner.

“While I appreciate the contribution the existing undeveloped garden area makes to the largely open-plan layout of the site and Lower Wick estate, I do not consider that this, in itself, precludes the site from development.”

Committee members were broadly in agreement, with Labour councillor Paul Denham saying: “There is an expectation that permission should be granted unless we can find reasons to refuse. I find none.”

One voice of opposition was his Labour colleague Alan Amos, who said: “These things do set a precedent. The area they live in will be enormously changed and I think it’s too much.”

The committee voted by seven to two to grant outline permission. A more detailed plan must now be submitted for approval by the applicant.