COUNCILLORS are set to decide whether an application from a paraplegic man to transform a dilapidated cottage to a bungalow is acceptable.

Applicant Mr E Lloyd was given permission to transform Vervain Cottage at Bastonford, near Powick, into a bungalow by Malvern Hills District Council's northern area development control committee last month against officer advice.

Now officers have decided it should be reviewed at the planning committee on Tuesday because the earlier decision is "substantially in conflict with local and national planning policy."

The cottage is described as “unremarkable” and “dilapidated” in a report and the replacement is intended to “meet the specific needs of this applicant, who is paraplegic following a road traffic accident”.

The council’s head of housing and planning Gary Williams said: “The council needs to consider very carefully the precedent that could be set if personal circumstances are accepted, as justifying development that would otherwise not be granted planning permission and the likelihood other applicants with their own set of personal circumstances will expect to have their proposals considered in a similarly positive way. Therefore, while officers are sympathetic to the applicants needs, it should not override the clear policy conflict in this case. There are not considered to be any national or local planning policy reasons to justify the granting of planning permission."