Residents are furious by a “clear breach” of planning rules which has been given approval anyway.

The council’s planning committee retrospectively allowed a three-bedroom house where permission had only been granted for a two-bed on Swingate Avenue, Cliffe.

While councillors said they disagreed with the way the build had been done, they decided they could not reject the proposal, leading residents to ask what the point of planning rules were.

During the planning committee meeting, Cllr John Williams (Con), whose ward the offending house is in, argued to allow this breach would be unacceptable for locals.

The authority’s interim development manager, Trevor Faulkner, said of the site: “Yes, this is in breach, clearly in breach of the spirit of planning, but if [the dormer and other aspects not included in the original plans] were to be removed they could come back again under permitted development.”

In total, councillors received 10 letters of complaint about the building work from residents who had noticed it was not matching what they believed had been approved.

However, when they tried to look up the plans for what was supposed to be a two-bedroom home, they couldn’t find any.

When plans were made available on the council website again, they were updated asking for permission to construct a three-bedroom house with a dormer which was already partly constructed.

Speaking on behalf of residents, Cllr Williams said the development severely impacts on privacy, daylight of other houses due to the increased building height and the dormer that looks onto neighbouring gardens.

Kayleigh Herbert, one of the residents near the new house, said it was setting a bad example for builders.

She said: “It makes a mockery of the planning process, people will look at this and think that they can just build whatever they want.

“Some of my neighbours have considered taking this matter further and exploring legal options to try and do something. It totally ruins the skyline and has lowered the value of my property.”

She also says that the workmen on the property have been a major disturbance.

Another resident in the area said they were angry about the new building as it ruined their view.

They also found the council’s response inadequate, saying: “I blame them. They don’t live around there so they don’t care.

“It’s us local people, we’re all up in arms about it. It just looks horrendous and out of place.

“They all said that this was a breach and was wrong, but they passed it anyway. They’ve got no bottle. What’s the point of having the planning rules?”

Despite the outrage from residents, the plans were approved by the planning committee due to the fact that when the original plans were granted on appeal the planning inspector did not limit future developments.

This meant that had the two-bedroom house been built and then the additions been applied for they would likely have been approved.

However, some councillors expressed frustration the proper protocol had not been followed and the three-bedroom version of the property impacted on the local area.

Cllr Joanne Howcroft-Scott (Lab) said: “The appearance sticks out like a sore thumb. I think it’s contrary to the local plan. I’m troubled and concerned about the scale of the development as well.

“I am worried for this community, you don’t often get this many letters from residents objecting. There’s no point having a local plan if we’re not going to adhere to it.”

Additionally, Cllr Gary Etheridge (Con) also said he would not vote to approve the plans, saying: “I cannot understand why we should be sitting here debating whether we should allow this to continue.

“That dormer should be removed, it should go back to its original state as a two bedroom house, and if they want to come forward with further development in future, let them do so.”

Conservative group leader Cllr Adrian Gulvin supported the approval of the plans, but said it was only because refusal would likely lead to the proposal being approved on appeal anyway.

He said: “My heart’s telling me we should refuse this, but my head’s telling me to take enforcement action would be a long procedure.

“I think common sense says one has to support this, but with a very heavy heart as this is a ridiculous situation.”

After discussion by councillors, the recommendation by the committee was that the plans be approved, but that further property development rights be restricted.

This recommendation was approved with nine votes for and three against.

We attempted to contact the building owners for comment but were unsuccessful.