A senior councillor who has advocated the building of nearly 2,000 new homes in his town is battling to stop a new house being built in his neighbour’s garden.

Andy Smith, chairman of Felixstowe Town Council’s planning committee, and who until recently was cabinet member for planning at Suffolk Coastal, says the site is too small for the new property, which would be “squashed in”.

He was also left “extremely surprised and disappointed” by his own planning committee’s decision to recommend approval for the new home.

Suffolk Coastal councillors have since been recommended by their planning officers to refuse consent, but have deferred their decision in order to make a site visit.

Plans propose building a new two-and-a-half storey house on part of the side garden of a property in Foxgrove Lane, Felixstowe.

Former mayor Mr Smith, who lives next door with his wife Gill, has lodged a strong objection to the scheme.

He says that two previous attempts to build in the garden had been refused and the grounds for refusal were still valid and had been reinforced by planning policy since.

He said: “This is not a routine infill development due to the very specific layout, character and prominence of the site. It would create a perceived density of development much higher than currently exists on this prominent part of Foxgrove Lane, and as such be significantly out of character in this situation.

“There simply is not room to develop this site in any way that would have reasonable regard to the amenities of the surrounding area and our own property in particular.”

Suffolk Coastal officers say the new house would cause overlooking, loss of privacy and loss of light.