A DEVELOPER who breached planning rules has been given permission to carry on working.

A scheme to build six one-bedroom flats off Barbourne Road, near Gheluvelt Park, in Worceser, was approved in 2005.

Earlier this year the developer, Selbourne Care , having come close to finishing the building work, applied to alter some of the conditions.

But instead of waiting for the conditions to be formally discharged they went ahead with the work - breaching the original planning approval.

At a meeting of Worcester City Council planning committee an agent for Selbourne Care asked members to retrospectively approve the changes, namely the conversion of loft space and enclosure of external staircases.

He said: “It wasn’t as though we flouted the laws and disregarded them. We did not have that formal letter from that council to say that conditions had been removed and we’re now taking responsibility for that.”

Pam Bradbury, who lives in nearby Brook Street, voiced fears that the changes, specifically the loft conversion which will increase in the number of bedrooms, will result in car parking problems.

She said: “It’s naive of the council not to except an increase in volume of parking.”

After deliberation councillors voted to approve the plans and work on the site will now continue.