A MAN has won the right to keep dormer windows he build into his bungalow after winning a bitter battle with Southend Council and neighbours.

John Dalton, 62, was originally turned down by councillors when he applied to build dormer windows, in the front and rear of his bungalow, in Marcus Avenue, Thorpe Bay.

After a heated debate at a council meeting, Mr Dalton has now been granted permission to do the work, which has already been done.

Development control committee members were furious to learn a recent ruling by planning inspector Stephen Job had opened the door for Mr Dalton’s proposal to go ahead.

Mr Job dismissed Mr Dalton’s appeal against the council’s original decision, agreeing the proposed rear dormer was too big. However, he said the front dormers proposed were acceptable.

On its own, the rear dormer is a sufficiently modest extension to be allowed as “permitted development”, so Mr Dalton’s latest application was for the front two dormers only.

Councillors reluctantly agreed his application, by 12 votes to four, after planners advised the planning inspector’s ruling made it impossible to refuse.

Mr Dalton said: “My wife and I are delighted and feel justice has finally been done.

“The alterations to my property have at all times met with the approval of the council’s planning officer and have been carried out lawfully.”

Mr Dalton said he and his wife, Valerie, bought the home in December 2009 and only intended to create two loft bedrooms so their future grandchildren, could come and stay.

A total of 72 neighbours objected to the application, though councillors claimed this was because Burges Estate Residents’ Association had e-mailed 700 residents about the issue.

It was said most objections were “proforma” letters which objectors had merely signed and only ten actually came from Marcus Avenue residents.