PLANS to build a three-bedroom house in Cam have been approved despite more than a dozen objections from nearby residents.

Neighbours of the proposed property at 21 Rowley were concerned about the narrowness of the approach road and the parking situation.

But members of Stroud District Council’s development control committee gave the go-ahead to the scheme on Tuesday, with three councillors voting for, two against and three abstaining, on condition that council officers ensured parking was implementable and a flood prevention scheme was guaranteed.

A representative for Church Architectural, the agent behind the application, said: “It’s been a long time in the making but finally we’ve got it, it’s great news.”

There were a total of 14 objectors to the application, one of which mentioned that the planning application for the site had been submitted and and resubmitted three times since last year.

One of the residents objecting, Alex Hunter, speaking on behalf of his fellow neighbours, said: “This application compromises the privacy and enjoyment of this land.

“The area is already prone to flooding as it is at the bottom of a hill, which is on a floodplain close to the River Cam.

“The design gives the impression that the area is bigger than it is.”

Much of the debate for the house centred on the accuracy of the plans that were submitted, calling into question the scale of the area available for both building and parking.

Development control manager, John Longmuir, said: “This plan is responsible to its neighbours, the sticking point is the right of way to enable everyone to access their own parking land.

“The sighting of it isn’t uncharacteristic with the rest of Cam."

Cllr John Marjoram (Green, Stroud Trinity) objected to the plans, saying: “The historic effect on the area should impact on our decision tonight.”

Another cause for concern was the effect of the house positioning, as it was feared that the cars parking outside the proposed property would be in a position where their headlights would shine into neighbouring living rooms and because of the slant of the road, some upstairs bedrooms.

Cllr Haydn Jones (Con, Berkeley Vale) was particularly vocal about the complicated parking situation, but Craig Hallett, the council solicitor, reassured the committee that a legal arrangement could be reached.

Opposition also came from Cam parish councillor and vice chairman of planning and highways, Fred Dowsing, who raised awareness about the narrowness of approach road, emphasising the difficulty that large vehicles would face gaining access to the house for construction.