A couple who sold the house they owned next door has now complained about their new neighbour’s plans to extend their property.

Barry McNamara and Judith Dawson, who own a house on Albert Road in Caversham, until recently owned the house next door before selling it to new neighbour Steve Gibson.

Mr Gibson submitted plans to Reading Borough Council (RBC) for a single-storey extension at the back of the property in June.

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He said he had advised Mr McNamara and Ms Dawson when he bought the house that he planned to extend it.

Planning officers would normally take a decision on such minor applications, but after Mr McNamara raised concerns, to local ward councillor Paul Carnell, the decision was deferred to the council’s Planning Applications committee.

However, the Planning Applications committee decided to further defer its decision at a meeting on Wednesday, September 8, to allow for councillors to visit the houses to help them make the decision.

Mr McNamara, objecting to the plan, said: “The thrust of our objections is the scale and proximity of the proposed development and the compromise on our privacy.

“In principle, we raise no objections at all to the idea of an extension. Everyone is doing it. The surprise came when we saw the nature of it.”

Reading Chronicle: PICTURED: The proposed extension on Albert RoadPICTURED: The proposed extension on Albert Road

He said the plans would create a 30ft long and 13ft high building with a 1m width passage going right alongside their patio.

The plans would overshadow his property and “compromise living conditions”, he said, and asked the committee to visit the homes before making a decision.

Applicant Mr Gibson called the situation “difficult”.

He said: “From the outset we always said we were planning to develop and extend it.

“Obviously, we were disappointed that they objected to it.”

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He said the plans “will actually improve privacy” and said the extension “is going to look great when it’s done”.

And, according to Mr Gibson, other nearby houses on the same road have all gone higher, wider and longer with their extensions than his plans.

Councillor Paul Carnell, who expressed his opposition to the plan, asked the committee to defer the decision to undertake a site visit.

The committee agreed to do that and save the debate on the plan for a future meeting.