Neighbours have found themselves caught up in a year-long planning wrangle despite essentially wanting the same thing.

Allyson Halls and William East say they have been robbed of sunlight since work started on an extension for their neighbour.

They didn’t initially have an issue with the plans for the bungalow in London Road, West Kingsdown.

But it soon became clear that a parapet wall had been added to the project - making it 70cm higher than expected.

Worried about how they were losing out on sunlight - especially in winter - they made a complaint to the council.

The neighbour’s builders decided to construct the wall on top of her roof after encountering drainage design problems.

Realising this did not comply with the planning permission, work was stopped.

This left Mrs Hall and Mr East with a lack of light and the neighbour with a half-finished extension.

The latter has subsequently submitted three new applications to change the details of the project.

These include lowering the height of the wall by constructing a larger pitched roof.

But Sevenoaks council, which is still investigating the initial planning breach, has twice refused proposed changes.

The latest application to fix the height issues was put forward in March but has been deferred by planners.

This is despite the neighbour saying her “house is partially uninhabitable”.

Meanwhile, Mrs Halls remains desperate for something to be done to rectify the situation with autumn approaching.

The 63-year-old said: “As the extension is right on the boundary it is like living next to a prison wall.

“We have a small courtyard garden, only 4.5m deep and the extension was raised over 70cm higher on the boundary than planned. All our sunlight has been taken from us.”

However, to complicate matters, Mrs Halls and Mr East objected to the latest planning application, saying they felt the drawings didn’t properly catch the measurements.

Subsequently, a council officer visited their property to assess the situation and recommended the deferment while the plans are looked at again.

While the neighbour declined to comment, the planning application provides insight into her family’s position.

It says: “This application is submitted to try and finally resolve this difficult situation the applicant and her family have been left in.

“They cannot continue to remain in the property in its unfinished state, and this ongoing situation is not in their best interests, or indeed, those of neighbouring properties having to contend with a construction site on their boundary.

“The house is partially uninhabitable, and the occupants are confined to the front rooms.”

Mrs Halls added: “Our garden is in shadow from October all the way round to March/April in the mornings.

“We’ve got this prison wall next to us - I just want to have our life back, I just want to be able to sit in my garden.”

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The couple want their neighbours to return to the original approved plans.

A council spokesman said officers were currently studying the application and a decision will be made in due course.