Plans to extend a house near the town centre have been rejected, after councillors agreed it would “unreasonably” overshadow other properties.

Councillors unanimously refused the planned single-storey extension at a three-storey house on Watlington Street, near the Lyndhurst pub.

The application, which one neighbour said would “completely overshadow” her kitchen window “all year round”, has been in limbo after it was deferred in March for a site visit and then delayed again by Covid-19.

Planning chiefs Tony Page and Karen Rowland, who managed to visit the site before lockdown, raised concerns about the plans at the Planning Applications committee meeting on June 3. READ MORE: 'Luxury' caravans plan at land 'owned by Reading FC captain Liam Moore'

Cllr Page, who is lead member for Planning at Reading Borough Council (RBC), said there would be “an unreasonable degree of overshadowing” and “there are no rear extensions on that whole road from the Lyndhurst pub up to this property”.

He said the plans would set a precedent that he doesn’t think is warranted or justifiable and would detract from the conservation area.

Cllr Rowland, lead member for heritage, agreed it would be a “precedent-setter” and suggested the owner find a property in another area where extensions are more likely to be allowed.

Planning officers had recommended that councillors backed the proposal and case officer Tom Hughes said a larger extension could be erected without planning permission under permitted development rights.

But councillors unanimously rejected the plans, with Conservative councillor Jane Stanford-Beale adding the extension would be over-bearing on the neighbour and stating the conservation area should remain as it is, with no extensions.

The council also rejected two other plans on the evening, a third proposal to transform a beloved Edwardian House and a plan to turn a vacant hotel into an eight-bed shared house.

Three plans were approved, including two 5G masts and a council project for two 5-bed family homes on Wylen Street, near Reading Central Jamme Mosque.

The two five-bed houses were previously supported housing for vulnerable people and will now become two five-bed family properties, which Housing chief councillor John Ennis said are very much in short supply”.

Cllr Rowland said the houses are “desperately needed” and “desperately welcomed” and called the development a “win-win for Reading”.