The scheme had been on track to be refused by council planning officers, but was called in for debate by ward councillor Greg Collins due to local support. The report said the existing single storey two-bedroom cottage had a floorspace of 61.5 square metres. The proposed replacement would have a floorspace of 249 square metres — representing an increase of 305 per cent. By including the floorspace of the garages and outbuildings, this baseline floorspace would increase to 125.5 square metres. She said the existing floorspace (including the outbuildings) would come to 191 square metres, making the increase “minimal”.