A businessman has been told he can’t convert an outbuilding into a house because it would be a “gross over-development” of the site.

Peter Petrou asked Fenland District Council for permission to carry out work at Victoria Street in Chatteris.

The site has been the subject of previous planning applications which involved a mixture of conversions and extensions to the main house and out-buildings.

The out-buildings on the site date back to the early 20th century and lie within the Chatteris conservation boundary.

The design and access statement said: “The current out-building is under-used. The proposed change of use will offer a sustainable solution to new housing and make best use of the site meaning that a comprehensive site redevelopment has taken place.”

But Chatteris Town Council opposed the application, which they described as a “gross over-development of the site”, because of parking concerns.

Cambridgeshire County Council also recommended refusal because of “inadequate turning” and “substandard access visibility”.

Two letters of objection from residents highlighted parking problems and incomplete work at the site.

The officer’s report said: “The proposal has been the subject of pre-application discussion where it was concluded that the proposal had no prospect of complying with policy as it was considered overdevelopment of the site.

“It is clear that parking and manoeuvring within the site is already a problem.

“It is recommended that planning permission is refused for a lack of adequate turning and manoeuvring capability within the site and substandard access visibility that is likely to increase the chance of vehicle to pedestrian conflicts.”