A homeowner in a very exclusive neighbourhood on the edge of Swindon has appealed against Wiltshire Council’s refusal of consent to build a second storey on his detached garage.

Steve Burnett lives in 3 The Butts in Lydiard Millicent where several of the neighbouring properties are estimated at being worth well over £1m by industry experts.

He applied in 2021 to be allowed to build a second storey on the double garage he owns across the road from his house to make an annex to the house proper.

The walls would have been raised and the roof pitch steeper and an external staircase added – but the two up-and-over garage doors would have remained. Crucially plans did not show a window in the roof.

Mr Burnett’s application said: “The proposed annex will be visible from the road running along the northern site boundary but will be rendered to allow the design of the proposed outbuilding to integrate into the historic setting.

“The proposed annex constructed from materials that are appropriate for this part of the conservation area. Therefore it is considered that the overall development is high quality.

"The development will have no detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area or street scene.”

Unfortunately for him, Wiltshire Council's conservation officer did not agree and objected to the plan.

The officer wrote: “The proposed building appears almost double in height so it will appear similar in size to the cottage immediately opposite.

"The strange design, combined with the significant increase in bulk, will dominate the streetscene, obscure trees and harm the setting of the heritage asset."

County Hall’s planning officer also did not think there would be enough light in the annex and, turning down Mr Burnett’s proposal said: “The use of the upper floor as an annex ancillary to the main dwelling means it could potentially be used for a range of domestic activities that would require a good level of amenity.

"However, the development would result in an unacceptably poor environment for future users, who would have limited headroom, a poor outlook and insufficient natural light.”

Mr Burnett has subsequently appealed against the decision to the government-appointed planning inspector who will have the power to overturn the council’s decision.

Submissions by Mr Burnett and the council will be made in writing to the inspector who will also visit the site before making and publishing a decision.

Zoopla.com currently estimates the value of 3 The Butts to be £520,000  to £575,000.