Plans for a roof window on a Dorchester house has attracted the ire of neighbours and councillors.

The property, 1 Bennetts Court in Colliton Street, was granted planning permission under strict terms when it was first approved with an understanding there would be no variation from the original drawings.

But the new owners, who have not yet moved in, have now asked for a roof window on the south elevation.

This led to formal objections from the town council and four neighbours.

West Dorset District Council's planning committee rejected the application after councillors heard concerns about the size and appearance of the window, fears about loss of privacy for neighbouring properties and the look of the window in a conservation area.

Dorchester planning committee chairman Cllr Susie Hosford said that although the original window was smaller than first proposed, it would still be almost a metre wide, and would still allow neighbouring homes to be overlooked.

“A window shouldn’t be there at all in a sensitive area in the heart of a conservation area,” she said.

“This property was extremely contentious and officers spent a lot of time negotiating plans and addressing concerns. Permitted development rights were removed at the time because the application was bordering on what is acceptable. If this was agreed we would overturn all that.”