A plan to replace a garage with flats in Earley has been slammed for being an ‘awkward and alien’ addition to an estate.

A householder had applied to replace the garage in Faygate Way, Lower Earley with a new house containing two flats.

The plan would have involved both the demolition of a garage and the new house being established on its footprint and a grassy patch of land between two existing homes.

But the plan was slammed by a planning officer for being cramped and not fitting in well with the area.

The officer, who works for Wokingham Borough Council, recommending refusal, said: “Ultimately the proposal would be an awkward and alien addition to the street scene in this prominent corner location which would conflict with the prevailing pattern of development in this estate.”

The application also faced opposition from neighbours, who argued the building would block sunlight, overlook surrounding homes and cause parking problems.

Jenny Vaughan, the owner of a neighbouring two-storey home in Faygate Way said: “Erection of a two-storey dwelling would significantly impact the amenities of the house I own, primarily the blocking of natural light to both house and garden, and the restriction of access to the private driveway.

“There has long been a problem with parking in Faygate Way, particularly commercial vehicles which are too large to fit onto the drives and allocated parking spaces.”

Meanwhile, Earley Town Council’s planning committee recommended refusal.

The committee wrote: “The proposed development is of an inappropriate scale mass, built form and of poor quality design to the detriment of the amenities of adjoining properties and the character of the area.”

The plan was refused by Marcia Head, the borough council’s head of development management – place & growth on Wednesday, May 31.

In her reasons for refusal, she called the building proposal a ‘cramped and contrived development’ that would have a detrimental impact on the estate due to its limited plot size.

She also judged that windows on the first floor would overlook into a neighbouring bungalow, and rooflights would cause a disturbance to the neighbours as well.

You can view the refused application and the decision by typing reference 230859 into Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.

The building would have been two storeys tall with a roof, with a one-bedroom flat being provided on the ground floor and two bedroom flat spread across the first floor and the roof.

Each of the bedrooms would have had space for double beds, with each flat having a bathroom.

The bedroom in the roof of the two-bed flat would have benefited from an ensuite.

Four parking spaces would have been provided according to a site and block plan submitted with the application.

The developer argued the plan promoted good-quality design.