THE height of a home has got Slaley residents up in arms for breaching planning restrictions.

Rookhope Cottage – which has been nicknamed ‘Rookhope Towers’ and ‘The Shard’ – has been dubbed a blight on the village after it was built almost three feet higher than originally allowed.

An application to vary the conditions on the recent build, located on the village’s main street, has attracted 17 letters of objection from residents.

Residents’ concerns were raised at Slaley Parish Council, where councillors agreed to object to the application.

Speaking afterwards, chairman Coun. David Allsop said: “There is a lot of dissatisfaction because it was built nearly a metre higher than it should have been.

“As it was designed originally, people were generally happy with it.

“It’s in part of the village which is very pretty and people often comment on how lovely the dormer bungalow next door is, but now it’s completely overshadowed by this building.”

The property has been built on land next to Tree Tops bungalow, and neighbours both Middle Grange and Middle Farm. Owners from all three properties have strongly objected that the building is too high.

The owners of Tree Tops argue that their property has been overshadowed and devalued, and Sir Michael and Lady Paula Darrington, of Middle Grange, said the build was a “serious deviation from the approved plans”.

In a letter to Northumberland County Council they argued the building was out of scale with development in the surrounding area and, due to the seriousness of the breach, the application should be considered by the planning committee.

Simon Band, of Middle Farm, added: “We object strongly to this ruse and expect the planning committee to demonstrate that the planning process is meaningful and you will not just cave in and leave the neighbours with this ugly dominating house in perpetuity.

“You will all move on but the house ‘Rookhope Towers’ won’t.”

Objectors have called it an “eyesore” and “blight”, while others expressed fears that the size could lead to future applications to expand its living space into the roof.

The application for planners to allow the extended height has been made by owner Robin Chute, of Winchester.

In the response to the planning breach, the applicant accepted that the ridge and eaves of the cottage had been built higher than original planning consent allowed.

However, it was not high enough to be considered harmful, it argued, and the increased ridge height did not affect amenities to Tree Tops, while neither Middle Grange or Middle Farm suffered any lack of amenities, light, sun or privacy.

The report added that considerable changes had been made to the original plans in order to accommodate neighbours. These included reducing elevation and window sizes, and relinquishing a right of way due to concerns over increased traffic and intrusion on privacy.