A residents’ association was left disappointed after Harrow Council granted planning permission for a large development in its conservation area.

The development, at a house in South View Road, Pinner Hill, was approved by a majority of one vote.   

It will see the property’s floorspace increase by almost 30 per cent, and the number of bedrooms increase from five to nine.  

And despite opposition from neighbours, as well as the threeConservative councillors sitting on the planning committee, the proposals were pushed through.

Cllr Stephen Greek said approving the plans ran the risk of setting a precedent for future developments at the site.

“I’m very concerned about this development,” he said. “We need to be very careful with this area.

“It’s a conservation area and it’s a green belt area – we cannot set a precedent with a development such as this.”

His motion for refusal was rejected by a vote of four to three.

The residents’ association urged the committee to consider the fact that the developer had already had three similar applications rejected.

It added that the proposed changes to the building would not be in keeping with the area’s character, that they were too great in terms of size and that they would negatively impact the conservation area.

“The proposals are an overdevelopment of the site and represent urbanisation of a rural estate,” it said.

These sentiments were shared by Cllr June Baxter, who said they were “excessive and harmful” to green belt land.

Cllr Norman Stevenson, the third committee member to vote against the plans, called it a “monstrous overdevelopment” and accused those who backed it of ignoring neighbours’ opinions.

When quizzed about the purpose of the development, planning officers assured committee members and Pinner Hill residents that the home will continue to be used as a family dwelling.