PERMISSION to build a pharmacy has been granted despite residents voicing fears over loss of natural light and loitering.

Plans to build a pharmacy on land behind Chells Manor Community Centre in Stevenage were approved by members of Stevenage Borough Council on Wednesday night.

The location in Emperors Gate backs on to houses in Augustus Gate, with residents raising a number of concerns about the development, which will serve the adjacent doctor’s surgery.

Opposing the application, Alyson Norton, who lives in the street, wrote: “The proposed building will cause a loss of natural light to my property. This will be most pronounced during the summer when I sit the garden, but will occur during winter months as this is the main light source into my conservatory and main seating area of my lounge.

“The proposed alleway between my wall and the new development will become a place for youths to gather, cause disruption, and deposit rubbish.”

Fellow residents Mr and Mrs McGuire wrote: “We primarily purchased our property due to its south facing position and the amount of sunlight we get to the rear of our property – the proposed building will take this away.

“The illustrations show there will be an alleyway between the wall of the pharmacy and our boundary wall. It concerns us that we will get teenagers hanging about in the alleway drinking as this already happens in the alleyway behind our neighbours’ properties.”

Responding to the objections, borough council officer Clive Inwards said in a report prepared prior to the planning meeting that a light test had been successfully undertaken and the loss of winter sunlight “is not considered to be so significant to warrant a reason for refusal”. It also was proposed that a gate could be built to stop access to an alleyway.

Once built, the pharmacy will operate between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.