A BUSINESSMAN who set his heart on building a £2.6m home in Titchfield based on the Sydney Opera House has finally had his dream realised after a two-year planning battle.

Richard Jones was overcome with emotion as planners told him they would allow the energy efficient state-of-the-art home to be built at the fourth time of asking.

He could now be living in his dream home, with panoramic views of the Solent, by this time next year.

Mr Jones redesigned plans for Dreamfield at Meon Shore after he lost at appeal by just one point although he believed all his previous applications complied with council planning policies.

He said: "I'm emotional and trying not to cry. I wanted to create something that was special but that respected neighbours and met planning policies.

"Some people can't cope with something new and exciting and unfortunately it is a lottery depending on who is on the planning committee. You shouldn't need to become a planning guru, but that's the way it works.

"It will be a showpiece and I think it is something Fareham as a borough can be proud of."

The five-bedroom house complete with swimming pool and home cinema has won approval from the prestigious Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.

Dreamfield also won the support of a number of borough councillors, including Connie Hockley who begged planners to 'let someone have a dream'. They voted five to three in favour of allowing the revised plan, which was slightly smaller, to go ahead.

Fareham Society chairman Jim Hall objected to the plans, saying the size and bulk of the home was still unacceptable despite a 20 per cent reduction in size.

Work is expected to start before the end of the month.