JANUARY’S Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council’s planning meeting took an unexpected emotional twist, when a controversial application reduced a member of the public to tears.

The application for a separate two-storey dwelling adjacent to Chiltlee View in Haslemere Road, would have a disastrous effect on the occupants of flat Nos 3 and 6, depriving them of their current light source.

The owner of flat No. 6 on the first floor of the building attended the meeting and stated she would lose the light from her only two bedroom windows – if a separate building was constructed in close proximity of the existing house.

Flat No. 3 is rented accommodation and belongs to the developer.

She explained her living room only has one window and by taking away the light source from the bedroom windows, the flat would become very dark.

Planning committee chairman Don Jerrard, pointed out no notice had been given to the occupier most affected by the proposal, despite existing certificates of ownership for four of the flats in the building.

After lengthy discussions, the parish council strongly objected to the application as there would be a major loss of amenity and major light source to Flat No. 6.

In addition councillors pointed out the occupant was not informed by letter of the application and the proposal would be overdevelopment of the site and provide inadequate parking.

The parish council also requested that a visit to Flat o. 6 was made as soon as possible by East Hampshire District Council officers.

Nick Sellitto of Liphook-based Sellitto Developments filed the application just before Christmas, proposing to construct a separate two-storey house closely behind the current dwelling.

A similar application for a one-bedroom dwelling was submitted by Silletto Developments to EHDC in early 2014 and was refused planning permission.

However, planning permission was granted in 2012 for a two-storey extension to form additional accommodation to two of the existing flats Nos. 3 and 6.

The new application proposes the use of the floor area already granted permission to form a separate two-bedroom dwelling.

In addition, Mr Sellitto filed a further application in December for the conversion of existing loft space to habitable accommodation, with four roof lights to the front and four to the rear elevations – for Flat 4 in the same building.

Parish councillors also objected to this proposal stating that this would be overdevelopment of the site as well as provide insufficient car parking.

The application site is located on the north side of Haslemere Road, adjacent to the Liphook Conservation Area and comprises a detached two-storey building with six flats, set back from the main road.

The application will now be considered by EHDC’s planning committee.