PLANNING chiefs have agreed to pay a visit to a controversial development in Locks Heath to settle a conflict between builders and residents.

Kebbell Homes built 24 homes in four blocks on Locks Road up to 60 centimetres taller than planning permission allowed.

Now council chiefs have vowed to make a pilgrimage to the site en masse to scrutinise the blocks before deciding whether to get the builders to lower the roofs.

Planning vice-chairman, Councillor Arthur Mandry, said: "We are going to the site not only for our own benefit but to be fair to all parties. That way when we make our decision we can say that we have done everything we can."

Council bosses confronted the company about the roof heights towards the end of last year after neighbours complained they were higher than agreed. Kebbell offered to flatten out one of the roofs after the heightened buildings unwittingly got past the council last year. But residents said it was not good enough.

Now the builders will have to wait for planners' verdicts before they find out if they need to downsize the block heights.

Cllr Mandry said: "If we decide they would have been permitted anyway then we probably won't take any action. If not then we will ask for them to be lowered."

Kebbell could either appeal the decision or do nothing - in which case the company would face legal action.

Nearby residents are outraged the flats were allowed to go up next to The Chestnuts retirement complex and overshadow nearby homes in Lawn Close and Field Drive.

Michael Harris, secretary of The Chestnuts Leaseholders' Association, said: "We are hoping that when councillors visit they will see our point of view and do something about it. After all - it is their fault, they slipped up and allowed Kebbell Homes to build to that height in the first place."