COUNCIL planners ignored their own guidelines when they gave permission for dormer windows as part of a house extension in a select suburb of Christchurch, say angry neighbours who are pressing for the decision to be reviewed.

They are aghast that despite their strong objections and the contents of the council's design advice notes for extensions and alterations town hall officers gave their approval for the remodelling of the £500,000 four-bedroom property in Friars Cliff.

Now adjoining residents who claim the additions of dormers and a first floor balcony at the detached house in Seaway Avenue will lead to overlooking of their own homes are lobbying councillors to challenge the officer's decision and threatening to take their complaints to the local government ombudsman.

Objectors in Seaway Avenue and nearby Seafield Road and Hynesbury Road also fear granting consent will create a precedent in the area where there are currently no dormer windows.

And residents point to the designation of Friars Cliff in the council planning guidelines as a "townscape character area" with Seaway Avenue listed as a special character area "where residents should pay particular regard to those area's special qualities and interests".

Under the heading of dormers and rooflights, the same document specifies that "new roofs should fit in with the roofscape of the area".

But the dormer decision was defended by town hall planning chief David Groom in letters to the protesters.

Although he admitted he would have preferred the dormers to be deleted from the proposals, the applicants were unwilling to do this, but did reduce the size of the windows.

Mr Groom said dormers were not uncharacteristic of the area and those proposed in Seaway Avenue were small and well-designed.

"I firmly believe that despite the concerns we had over the dormers, we could not have justified a refusal at appeal," he said.

First published: August 13