CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a house in Abbotts Ann that have "fractured" the village have finally been approved, more than two years since the retrospective application was first decided on.

Steven and Catherine Pearce were first granted planning permission to build a house adjacent to their property on Little Ann Road in 2016, but when construction began it was larger and closer to the boundary than permission had stated.

They submitted a retrospective application for slightly amended plans in March 2019, but they were refused, and an enforcement notice demanding the demolition of the partly-constructed house was issued by Test Valley Borough Council in early 2020.

However, the Pearces appealed this to the Planning Inspector, who afforded them the opportunity to make another application for planning permission and said that their application did meet local planning policy.

And at a meeting of TVBC's Northern Area Planning Committee on Thursday evening, councillors voted to approve the amended plans.

However, councillors and residents had strong criticism for the applicants, with one committee member saying he was "unhappy" with their approach.

Cllr Tony Burley (CON, Andover Harroway) said that the council's planning department had been "extremely patient" with the developer, whilst Cllr David Coole (AI, Anna) said: "The applicant did not comply with the original planning application.

"As a builder myself I know how important it is to ensure that the foundations are in the right place before you start building."

Meanwhile, Cllr Maureen Flood (CON, Anna) decided to call the application to the committee's attention because of "the widespread community interest".

She told the meeting: "Over the last two and a half years there have been few weeks where I have not been asked about it.

"This application has fractured my village community.

"It has cost the applicants and council money and time, and in my view it has contributed to the cynicism about the planning process and politics, which is a sadness for me.

"Councillors and officers after much consultation with our communities spend much time and thought drawing up and approving our planning policies and when those policies are breached there is harm to our democratic process.

"Given that councillors and local planning committees make decisions based on the area that they know, it can be difficult to understand when those decisions are viewed differently by others and by government planning inspectors.

"Councillors, you have the difficult task of making a decision this evening, mindful of the professional advice of our officers, the appeal outcome, the arguments put by this evening's speakers and of course mindful of your duties as borough councillors.

"You have my support whatever that decision might be. That is the democratic process."

When considering the appeal on the enforcement notice, inspector Melissa Madge had concluded that the revised plans, refused by TVBC, had met local planning policy, but to uphold the appeal and grant planning permission would be "futile" because the applicants could no longer afford to go along with the project.

It led one committee member, Cllr Jan Budzynski (CON, Andover St Mary's) to label supporting planning officers' recommendation to approve the plans as a "no brainer", adding: "I have a great deal of sympathy with the objectors.

"However, we haven't got a leg to stand on if we refuse this.

"We automatically lose any appeal that is made, we have substantial costs against us, so I am afraid it is a no brainer."

The revised plans were approved.