AN APPEAL date has been set for a controversial planning application. The application would see a detached, five bedroom property built at Heathfield, Royston. It was initially turned down by the North Herts District Council planning committee last Septem

AN APPEAL date has been set for a controversial planning application.

The application would see a detached, five bedroom property built at Heathfield, Royston.

It was initially turned down by the North Herts District Council planning committee last September, even though the district council's officer recommended that the application be approved.

Now the applicants have lodged an appeal, which will be heard on March 11.

Royston town council's planning committee objected to the plan, while 48 residents of Heathfield signed a petition against it.

One of these, town councillor Rod Kennedy, said: "It is an overly-dominant building and the design is not acceptable. It is visually unacceptable."

Another resident, Graham Benstead, compared the design to that of a "factory" or an office block.

He said it would "stick out like a sore thumb".

However, a report from district council planning officer Natalie Reynard said the design would "not be out of character" with the rest of Heathfield.