AN HISTORIC building in Worcester is going to have extra development tagged onto it under an expansion - with politicians ignoring advice to leave the site as it is.

Your Worcester News can reveal how Thorneloe Court in Barbourne, which dates back to 1884 and is regarded as a heritage asset by some politicians, will have one detached home built in its overgrown back garden.

The site is currently a three-storey block of apartments, and sits within the St George’s Square Conservation Area in Barbourne Crescent.

A report before the city council's planning committee called it "a high status" late Victorian residential development of real distinction, and recommended that the bid to develop the garden be refused.

It said the change would have "an unacceptable and harmful impact on the character" of the Conservation Area, but it was given the go-ahead by seven votes to four after the bid divided opinion.

Back in 2013 a similar attempt to develop the garden into three two-bed properties was rejected, but since then it has overgrown more extensively.

The owners have promised other improvements including repairs to the walls, new railings, a concealed area to store bins within the grounds of the complex and revamping the drive and parking area.

Councillor Robert Rowden said: "The Conservation Areas Committee (a body which gets a first opinion) was happy to support this and it would be good to complete the development.

"It's unlikely the garden will ever be used as a garden, there's a number of reasons why we should support this."

But Councillor Andy Roberts said: "You can preserve an area 1,000 times but you can only destroy it once."

Councillor Pat Agar added: "As Andy says, you cam only destroy a heritage asset once, I'll be going with his view."

Others disagreed, with Councillor David Wilkinson insisting it should be supported as long as proposals for a metal roof were changed for better materials.

Councillor Geoff Williams, the chairman, said: "I think most of us are minded to support this."

After a vote it was nodded through 7-4, with a condition attached barring the use of a metal roof.