Despite objections by residents, district planners have granted permission for an application to build a new home in Victoria Road in Kingsdown.

The application for a detached bungalow, which will be the last property on Victoria Road, 11m from Bayview Road – an area of outstanding natural beauty – had prompted 30 letters of objection.

Residents’ concerns included that the building would not be in keeping with the character and appearance of the area, it would be too tall, it would erode the soft edge of the village confines and it would have no benefit to the community or countryside. Applications had previously been made in 1996 and 2003 and were refused.

At a planning meeting in Dover on Thursday, vice-president of Kingsdown and Ringwould Parish Council David Bucknell spoke on behalf of his council to the district members.

He said: “The council have refused to grant any applications on this strip of land until now. If this application is approved, it will be the first house to be built on this strip for 80 years.”

He was followed by a speech from Mark Reynolds who pointed out both Highways and Southern Water had no objections.

He said: “It will be nestled behind a hedge and when viewed from afar, the effects will be minimal.”

Councillors deferred making a decision at the last meeting on Thursday, August 28, and arranged a site meeting. Cllr Jim Cronk said: “Given the complaints of this application, the site meeting was informative. I think it quite clear that the proposed development would not impact on the AONB. By keeping the hedging there, it will provide a soft edge.”

Councillors voted seven to one in favour of the proposal.

Against it was Cllr Peter Wallace who said: “It’s going to stick out like a sore thumb. Others will say how come they got away with it, but I can’t?

“Who knows in the future what the next applicant might ask. It doesn’t serve a purpose to me. There’s no real housing need in the area therefore I’m against the recommendation.”

Chairman Cllr Frederick Scales responded: “The house will front Victoria Road, that is why the committee is looking at it in a more favourable light.

“There is a housing need within the district. There would not be any breaking up of the boundary, this particular site is within the confines.”

Councillors agreed a construction management plan would be formed with certain conditions including days and time when building can take place.