A SOUTH Cerney man has hit out at the district council for approving plans that will ruin his view.

Developer Redrow Homes built the Cerney on the Water housing complex at The Mallards in South Cerney and is set to build a further 149 homes and community facilities to complete the project.

Alan Dickenson, who recently bought a house on The Mallards, is furious that since buying his home permission has been granted for nine multi-million lakeside properties that will block his view of the lake.

He said: “Redrow stitched up the current purchasers of properties that have a view of the lake when they had sold the last one of phase one, changing the plans so the existing buyers won’t see the lake at all.

He said Redrow ignored resident’s objections but residents were assured by Cotswold District Council (CDC) that they could put their views to the council’s planning committee.

They were surprised to find, therefore, that on March 27, this year permission was granted by planning officers under delegated powers.

The council said ward members Juliet Layton, Esmond Jenkins and Clive Bennett had been consulted and had agreed delegated powers would be appropriate.

Mr Dickenson said he had been told that no minutes had been taken of meetings between officers and Redrow Homes and that compliance with building regulations was assigned to the new homes authority NHBC rather than the council.

Redrow have since had to apply for retrospective permission to change colours of roofs.

The application refers to roofs on some houses already built and some yet to be built.

Mr Dickenson said that he believes that CDC will pass this application and in doing so get Redrow and NHBC out of a tricky legal situation.

“Redrow sold the houses on a contract that confirms the houses comply with planning permission and building regulation approval,” he said.

“Redrow are currently in breach of contract for the wrong roofs and open to claims of professional negligence.

CDC spokesman Bob McNally said the plans were changed by officers in consultation with ward members taking into account the objections of residents.

He said: “Having considered all the issues they concluded that, in planning terms, a refusal couldn’t be justified.”