Underground garage plans face uphill battle for approval

Alison Botten last year won her marathon seven-year battle to build the house in a hillside at Garton-on-the-Wolds next to Grade I listed St Michael’s Church. East Riding Council was ordered to pay a four-figure sum to Ms Botten by the appeal inspector who praised the architects’ “innovative approach.”

Work has begun on the single-storey two-bedroom home, which will be partially buried in a slope, but Ms Botten now wants to add the garage.

She faces opposition from the parish council, church council and ward councillor Felicity Temple, who will be speaking against the application at a planning meeting today. Ms Botten said: “I don’t understand why they are making such a fuss over a garage, which will be partially buried. I think what we are doing is quite consistent with the views of the appeal inspector and English Heritage. English Heritage was concerned about “paraphernalia” and the garage would provide parking and storage for bins and gardening equipment.

“Individuals have had the opportunity to object and haven’t; those who have actually seen the plans are very supportive.”

However Coun Temple said: “There’s a lot of anxiety over its proximity to such hallowed ground. Almost everyone in the village, apart from the family and their immediate employees, were against it. It was hard won by going to appeal for the original house and I just feel any more excavation into the mound is unacceptable.”