BEXLEY councillors are poised to reject plans which would turn a pair of semi-detached houses into a terrace of three.

When the plans for 18 Cavendish Avenue, Welling, came before the council’s planning committee, one member accused the applicant of “trying to pull the wool over our eyes”.

The proposal to create a three-bedroom terraced house had begun as a project to extend one of the semi's.

The part one/part two-storey side extension to the house was given planning permission in April this year.

But with the extension nearly finished, the plans came back to the committee for a two-storey extension to create a completely separate house.

Kathleen Bebruth who lives opposite said creating a terrace would change the character of the area and and plans to store the rubbish bins at the front of the house would look unsightly.

Francesca Skipper, another resident described the application as “a step too far”.

She told the committee: “The approved extension was large, but it retained the garden in the front.

“We consoled ourselves it was only an extension.”

Ward councillor Nigel Betts opposing the application said it had provoked one of his biggest ever postbags.

Councillor Alan Downing commented: “Someone is trying to pull the wool over our eyes, and instead of a nice extension, they now want to turn it into a new house.”

Councillor Brian Bishop added: ”Where does it leave someone living in the other side of the semi?”

Despite being recommended by the planning officer for permission, committee members said they wanted to reject the application for a separate home, and the application was deferred until the next committee meeting.