Members of the authority's development control committee turned down the application on High Lea Road at their meeting last week after hearing it was unduly prominent, out of character and caused a loss of privacy and amenity to neighbours.

Local resident Jane Bagnall, objecting to the application, said: "This development impacts on our privacy and our amenity and we feel it doesn't comply with local plan policies H14 and GD5 because of its scale and location, and we think it also fails to comply with local plan policy GD4.

"It is simply too large for the original building and its design doesn't respect the traditions of the area.

"The conservatory is so high and projects so far that all areas of our garden and our neighbour's garden are now overlooked, particularly by the front windows.

"The design is not sympathetic to the local area and detracts from the local view."

Applicant Steve Grimley said: "I received a letter saying planning permission was not needed and that changed two years later when the project was almost completed.

"It is mixed housing on High Lea Road that suits no particular architectural value, style or age.

"It is described in the report as a classic late Victorian dwelling house with views across the valley. That is a fantasy of estate agent proportions.

"I would suggest the development does not fail to comply with the local plan policies and any design would be a matter of opinion, taste and conjecture.

"More people than the objectors have said how much they like and admire the conservatory."

Cllr Michael Harrison said: "I do think it is intrusive. However, I do think there are circumstances pertinent to this application and I think the applicant deserves to be given a little bit of time to come up with something better and less intrusive than what we have at the moment."

The application was refused with councillors recommending enforcement action be suspended while negotiations take place with the applicant.