AN UNUSUAL York planning application, which was sent birthday and Christmas cards by its exasperated architect, looks set to receive more greetings - and then a final goodbye.

The application, to add extra rooms and a granny flat to a house in Mount Vale, York, was first submitted in September 2001.

No decision had been made last September, so, in disbelief, architect Matthew Laverack sent it a first birthday card, then a festive greeting at Christmas.

"I wanted to let the application know it hadn't been forgotten, at least not by me," he said on its first birthday.

Now though, the strange situation looks like it could be resolved, as the application comes before a City of York Council committee on Wednesday - and has been recommended for approval.

Mr Laverack said: "I am confident it will be approved, but I am not going to get too excited until it has been - I expect the unexpected with this council.

"We can see the funny side of it though. I have seen some applications take a while but this is a real cracker, it has got to be a record."

Cliff Carruthers, the council's head of development control, said he had met Mr Laverack which had meant the application could move forward.

He said: "Hopefully we can now draw the matter to a close. "Obviously the final decision rests with the councillors, but it has been recommended for approval."

Asked if the council's planning department had seen the funny side of the saga, Mr Carruthers said: "It has raised a smile, yes."

Updated: 10:20 Monday, March 17, 2003