A controversial planning application is set to be discussed tomorrow (Thursday) after three houses were built in a village which breach planning conditions.

Members of North Herts District Council’s (NHDC) planning committee will discuss a retrospective planning application submitted for three three-bedroom houses on land adjacent to Claypit Cottages in Luton Road, Offley.

Objections have been made by Offley Parish Council and the homeowner of Claypit Cottages – the property closest to one of the new build homes – on grounds that the height of the buildings are affecting the levels of daylight and sunlight.

The application has been made by J J Kelly and Sons Ltd of Luton.

Two of the houses have been sold subject to contract and one is already occupied. The original application which was approved was for three three-bedroom houses but on property website Right Move the homes have been advertised as four and five-bedroom homes.

A spokesman for Offley Parish Council said: “Offley Parish Council rejected the original application because the designs were too big for the plot of land. This retrospective application is very different to what the parish council actually approved.

“During the build there were too many instances where work on site was being carried out which were not part of the approved planning application.

“It is of our opinion that a major requisite that unless the site is visited, how can a professional decision be arrived at?

Retrospective planning permission should not be granted as there were so many instances in this proposal where blatant errors were reported and ignored. If approved it would make a mockery of the current planning application process.”