Controversial plans for a James Bond-style mega basement, including a car lift and turntable were back before the council this week.

Councillors agreed that planning permission at appeal should be refused, going against officers recommendations to approve the elaborate proposal.

The Hong Kong-based owner of Lake House in West Woodhay wants to change its planning consent to have a 1,500sq m underground car park for 16 cars, with a swimming pool, sauna, gym, games room and wellness areas.

It also wants to add more windows and lights to a previously approved new pavilion and add a pedestrian tunnel from the pavilion to the house.

But the planning inspector, on appeal, rejected this, saying the development damages the ‘dark skies and tranquility’ of the area.

So the Hong Kong-based owner/property and investment company, which is also called Lake House, appealed again – to the fury of local residents and all four surrounding parish councils.

West Woodhay Parish Council councillor Simon Hayes told the meeting on Wednesday the building was ‘lit up like a Christmas tree’ ruining the tranquility of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

“On light pollution the applicant is once again seeking permission to remove garage doors on both pavilions and replace them with large French windows which, incidentally, he has already done,” he said.

“This site can be seen from bridleways locally and clearly at night from wayfarers walk lit up like a Christmas tree.  No other house is like this. Not even Highclere Castle.”

Agents representing the owner said they had appealed to the planning inspectorate against non determination of the application by the council.

They claimed there would be no visual impact of the AONB as result of the larger basement being excavated.

But councillors refused to recommend approval to the planning inspector on the basis of insufficient detail of cumulative impact of lighting and disturbing the dark skies and tranquility of the AONB.

Many of the objectors and the parish councils also question what the intended final use of the buildings will be, with some suggesting the end game is for a spa resort.