PERMISSION to build a new house in North Malvern has been granted after a Government inspector overruled Malvern Hills District Council.

Mrs J G Grubb has now been given permission to put a new dwelling on land between 33 and 34 Meadway.

The original application was refused on the grounds it would have a detrimental effect on the character and appearance of the area. It was also ruled that a new house would have meant a loss of privacy for the occupiers of the two neighbouring houses.

However, the inspector decided the new house could be built, despite the fact it would overlook the back garden of number 33 in particular. He concluded that some overlooking of gardens is often unavoidable in urban areas, and that as long as the new house was "sensitively sited and designed", it would not result in an unacceptable loss of privacy.

He also ruled that the dwelling would be adequately separated from its neighbours, and would not appear out of place.

The new house must satisfy certain conditions, including a requirement for a wall or fence of at least 1.8 metres in height along the boundaries with the two neighbours' gardens.