A developer is appealing the district council's refusal of its controversial application to build a new home on the land adjacent to 7 Granger Avenue.

The plans, by developer Millen Homes Ltd, involve the construction of a two-storey three-bedroom house on the land, which is currently scrubland.

The district council refused the application in September on the basis that it would be "incongruous" and "detrimental" to the character and appearance of its surroundings.

Planning officers, who recommended refusal of the application, said that the proposed site layout would result in "a loss of privacy" to the residents of the neighbouring 76 Orchard Road.

The town council had also recommended refusal of the application, stating that it would form a "cramped, incongruous development, out of character with the street scene and resulting in overdevelopment of the site".

The two letters of objection to the plans submitted by neighbours on Orchard Road raised concerns about congestion.

One resident said: "The build, if approved, would further exacerbate the problem of congestion in Granger Avenue and the surrounding suburb from vehicles, and would increase the already significant risk to pedestrians from traffic."

This is the eighth application to develop the land since 1994 - the previous seven applications for the site were all refused by the district council.

Millen Homes Ltd has now made an appeal to the Secretary of State against the council's decision to not grant planning permission to the application.

The Secretary of State will now make a decision on the plans.