A family has questioned why their plans to build two homes side-by-side were turned down.

Darren and Cathy Clarke had planning permission approved for a detached two-storey house in Whybournes Chase, Minster, last year.

Months later, Mrs Clarke’s brother Keith French had his plans to build a pair of semi-detached homes on land immediately adjacent, refused on the grounds it would be “cramped”, “out of character” with the surrounding properties and harm appearance of the streetscene.

The plot was left to the siblings by their late mother and once contained her bungalow which has been demolished.

The family intended to split the site and develop it together as a family project to cut building costs.

Mr French put forward fresh plans for a single detached property which meant Mr and Mrs Clarke’s side could increase by 1.5m, so they submitted an alteration to their designs to make it 90cm wider.

Both were recommended for approval by officers but were turned down by the planning committee.

Members had worries about the change in width to the Clarkes’ plans and whether Mr French’s proposal was “in keeping with character of the area, inappropriate scale and presence”.

A total of four letters of objection were also submitted by neighbouring residents, which raised concerns about a loss of privacy, loss of light, parking and the plot being too small.

Mr Clarke, 53, believes, however, they have been “caught in the middle” of the ongoing saga with the homes being built to the rear of Seager Road, Sheerness, which was discussed at the same meeting.

Councillors refused retrospective planning approval for the development but it was “called in” by head of planning, James Freeman, for further discussion.

Mr Clarke said: “I just think the councillors are not happy. [Seager Road] is a big embarrassment and I don’t blame them, I understand why they would reject it.

“But if you look at these two little houses, it’s not a big intrusion like Seager Road.

“We have been held up by the planning department, making little changes they wanted, but with big developments like Seager Road it seems like they can do what they like and get away with it.”

The factory worker said although they would prefer the bigger house, he and his wife now intend to build according to the smaller plan as they moved out of their house in the same road in December 2013, not anticipating any delays, and now cannot afford to keep renting.