A COUNCILLOR and her husband have won their battle to retain a new look to their Tudor period home despite carrying out building work without planning consent.

Planning officers had wanted councillors to refuse permission for the rendering and masonry repairs which they claimed had affected the character and appearance of Kate and Michael Wheller's Grade II listed home in High Street, Wyke Regis, Weymouth.

The couple could have faced prosecution but yesterday's Weymouth and Portland planning and traffic committee agreed to delegate listed building consent for the work to their officers subject to the Whellers submitting a detailed schedule of works for their home.

Planning manager Simon Williams had told the meeting that the Whellers had removed rendering and carried out other work without required consent, leaving stonework exposed. He admitted that Wyke Regis Protection Society and a petition signed by 112 people backed the new-look home and added: "A number of people have said it looks very nice now.

"That may be the case, but the key issue for you is to make a judgement on what is best for the building which we feel should be properly re-rendered."

Conservation officer Colin Ellis said the Whellers' Tudor home, which might even go back to medieval times, had been listed as a rendered building so rendering was a historical fact of the building's life. He also said that pointing used in other work might affect stonework, but Mr Wheller said the building had been constructed long before rendering became common so there was no reason to render it now.

He added: "The stonework is exposed now and this allows people to see the history."

Mr Wheller also said nearby buildings had exposed stonework so their home was 'very much in keeping'.

He added: "We think we can take better care of the building if the stonework is left exposed and we would be very pleased if the planning department helped us with a maintenance programme."

The committee - reduced from 12 members to just six by four absentees and two councillors who left the meeting after declaring an interest in the item - was told by Coun John Nash that he had 'never heard such a lot of fuss'.

He added: "The owners will keep an eye on the building's condition and I would like to see the way it looks stay as it is now."

Coun David Mannings agreed and said: "I think it looks good now. You are exposing the stonework, you can see the history of it and I think it enhances the area. I like it as it is."

Coun John Birtwistle also agreed but sounded a note of caution when he said: "I am concerned that we may be appearing to tear up the rule book because the applicant is one of our colleagues."

Members voted 5-1 in favour of delegating listed building consent to their officers provided the Whellers submit a suitable works schedule for their home.