EAST Hampshire District Council leader Richard Millard has received planning permission to extend his four-bedroom house in Headley Down.

His application for a two-storey side extension and a single-storey rear extension to the Stonehill Road property, following the demolition of a conservatory and a garage side wall, was considered by the council’s planning committee at its meeting on February 13.

The report to the committee stated: "This application is included on the agenda as it has been submitted by a district councillor.

"The monitoring officer confirms that this proposal has been dealt with in accordance with the council’s procedures for handling planning proposals submitted by, or on behalf of, council members and staff."

Recommending consent, planning officer Bernie Beckett wrote: "The proposal is considered to be acceptable as it would be in scale and character with the dwelling, would not detract from the character and appearance of the area, would not have an unacceptable impact on the amenities of neighbouring properties and would not have an adverse effect on the safety and function of the highway network.

"As such, the proposal is in compliance with the relevant policies of the East Hampshire District Local Plan: Joint Core Strategy, and the East Hampshire District Local Plan: Second Review."

Cllr Dean Phillips said he would "happily go to the vote", while council chairman Cllr Anthony Williams, speaking as the member whose ward was affected by the proposal, said he had "no concerns" about the application. The committee voted to approve it unanimously.