A family of six is set to remain in a two-bedroom house after their application for an extension was blocked by the council.

The father, Imran Chhadat, appealed to the councillors on the planning committee for approval of the proposal.

Mr Chhadat argued the application for an extension – a new first-floor extension on top of an old ground-floor extension at his house on Windermere Street – was 'a necessity' for him, his wife, two teenagers and two twins born a few months ago.

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Mr Chhadat said: "The issue is simple. I have four children and I have borrowed money for this extension. 

"I live in a two-bedroom house. I can't afford to buy a bigger house and I need this extension as a necessity."

Mr Chhadat said the issue was a source of 'pressure' and 'stress' for him.

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Mr Chhadat added: "My wife and I live in one bedroom with the twins. 

"My daughter is in the other bedroom and my son is in the dining room."

A neighbour, however, appealed to the councillors on the Planning Committee for refusal of the proposal.

He argued the distance of 1.4 metres between this first-floor extension and his first-floor extension, which was approved around 20 years ago, was 'unacceptable'.

He said: "My bedroom is my place of rest and my place of work as I work from home.

He added: "Considering how much time I spend in the bedroom I think the overshadowing will have a severe impact on my wellbeing. It will feel like a prison."

The councillors were divided in a discussion of the issue.

Cllr Emily Mort said: "Obviously, I understand this is a private housing situation, but if this was a social housing situation there is no way we would allow children of the ages of 14 and 16 and of separate genders to be able to share a bedroom. 

"We know the impact of asking families to use family rooms such as dining rooms and living rooms as sleeping spaces. It doesn't have a positive impact on the wellbeing of those families."

But Cllr John Walsh said: We can't go back to what I consider to be a 'Victorian Style' of properties so crowded you've got 1.4 metres between properties. I'm going to be blunt about this."

After a vote, the application for an extension was blocked by the council. 

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.