A TWO-STOREY extension to a house which would have blocked light from a neighbouring sunroom  has been unanimously thrown out by councillors.

The owners of the property on Sanderson’s Grove, Tranent, wanted to add an extension which would have turned the house from a three-bedroom to a six-bedroom property.

But while planning officers recommended the extension for approval, councillors ruled against it.

At a virtual meeting of the planning committee, local ward councillor Colin McGinn branded the extension overdevelopment on the site.

East Lothian Courier: Councillor Colin McGinnCouncillor Colin McGinn

And he pointed out that a sunlight report had ruled that the addition to the house would block sunlight from half of the neighbouring garden, where the residents have a sunroom from 9am until 1pm every day.

Neighbour Derek Henderson urged the committee to reject the planning application, adding that the sunroom was an important part of the house.

And Mr McGinn questioned officers’ assessment that the impact of loss of sunlight would be minimal.

He said:  “When you think about using your own garden over the last year, to have that removed because someone wants to develop the site next door, I think that impact needs to considered very seriously.”

Applicant  Mujahid Nazir did not speak during the meeting, although he was in attendance.

Concerns were raised by objectors over the scale of the extension and fears that it could lead to the house being used as a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).

Ward councillor Kenny McLeod asked if it was possible to add a condition banning an HMO use but was advised it would not be competent.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, planning convenor, said he also believed that the extension was too big.

He said: “I think it is not a very appropriate scale of extension to the property and cannot support the officers’ recommendations.”

The committee voted unanimously to refuse planning permission on the grounds of overdevelopment.