A man whose family has worked in the hamlet where he lives for more than two generations has been granted planning permission to build a home on land that is currently his garden.

Fenland planners wanted to turn the scheme down saying it was in a flood risk zone but Paul Crowson said the area last flooded in 1947 making that statement “ridiculous.”

Mr Crowson, 64, whose grandfather was a milkman and whose father farmed the land around Waldersea Farm in Ring’s End, successfully won planning permission after he and his architect spoke at a meeting where councillors discussed his plan to build a two-storey home next to his bungalow in March Road.

Design architect, David Broker, said the plan was last turned down in July 2013 on the hottest day of the year when councillors were fatigued sitting in a stuffy council chamber.

He said they wanted to get the meeting out of the way rather than giving Mr Crowson’s application their full attention.

“It was the thirteenth item on the agenda, it was a lengthy meeting, members were fatigued and overwhelmed,” he said.

“The site is development that is within trees and established boundaries it’s not in the open countryside, the flood risk zone three argument does not work as another application half a mile up the road is recommended for approval.”

Mr Crowson said: “It hasn’t flooded again for more than 60 years and I doubt it will ever flood like it did in 1947 as measures have been put in place to prevent that happening again.”