Angry neighbours have vowed to keep campaigning against plans to turn a small outhouse into a home, after the scheme was approved by York councillors.

Maggie Frankish, of Fountayne Street, York, was distraught after proposals to convert the garage, which stands in the rear yard of her home, were given the green light.

She and her neighbours say they will now start a petition calling for an end to the "over-development of York".

The garage, measuring 3.2 metres wide by 5.6 metres high, is four metres away from Mrs Frankish's home, and is one of the smallest single dwelling applications ever considered by the council.

She made a passionate plea to City of York Council's planning committee to refuse the plan, saying: "This is over-development in its worst form. Is this what the citizens of York can expect, every shed and garage developed?"

Her views were echoed by Coun Ken King, who said: "I firmly believe that it will detract from their quality of life. This was built as part of the buildings around it, and never designed to be separate."

Coun Derek Smallwood said: "This idea of small dwellings might be popular in London, but I'm not sure York wants to be compared with London, where people live in broom cupboards."

But architect Matthew Laverack staunchly defended his design, saying the opponents' claims were "illogical".

"This is an existing commercial building which could be occupied by any business use 24-hours-a-day.

"We should be commended for coming forward with this scheme, not vilified. We have done those people a favour, in creating a pleasant living space and sparing them from all-day business use."

Some councillors who opposed the plans said the building would not provide enough living space for the resident.

They could not understand why this plan had been recommended for approval by officers, when a similar plan, submitted in November for the same building, was refused on over-development grounds.

Officers said the new plans were more detailed, and provided amenity space which was lacking before.

They also said the council stood in "great danger" of having costs awarded against it, should the applicants appeal, as the objection over living space was insufficient.

The vote split the committee, with chairman June Vaughan using her casting vote in favour of approval.

Coun King remarked: "I await the next garage that comes before us."

Afterwards Mrs Frankish told the Evening Press: "It's disgraceful. I thank those councillors who were human enough to vote against it.

"You can see from this what is going to happen to York in the future. They had perfectly good grounds to refuse it."

She said the neighbours would begin work on their campaign immediately, and would consider appeals to the European Court of Human Rights and the Local Government Ombudsman.

Updated: 08:53 Thursday, March 21, 2002