A Winchester couple who want to build a home to retire in have expressed frustration at city council planners who they say repeatedly shifted the goalposts.

Richard and Lesley Long, currently living in Shawford, want to build a home on land they own in Chesil Street, Winchester.

But this week, after nearly two years' negotiation, the plan was rejected for reasons they say have never been raised before.

"It's not a level playing field," said Mr Long. "With planning it's a question of give and take and we feel we have given an awful lot."

He said the battle to produce a final design for Wednesday's city council meeting on Wednesday had dominated their lives throughout this year.

But he said during negotiations council officers were slow to respond and gave him conflicting information.

A former conservation officer asked him to include a large window on the ground floor, said Mr Long.

But Richard McCullogh, the current conservation officer, told this week's meeting he thought the window was out of character.

Mr McCullogh also felt the proposed house would obscure views of the former St Peter's Church on Chesil Street.

But Mr Long said that was the first time he had heard the views being mentioned as a planning consideration.

Planners also decided that a garage, which would front on to Chesil Street, should be refused despite the council highway engineer lodging no objection.

They added an amendment which meant the plan could be refused because of the garage, and a similar design would not be allowed in a future application.

Mr Long said: "The very first time round the application was refused by officers, but they made no mention of the garage. It's been agreed by the right people but the councillors just said they didn't like it."

The couple's architect, Charles Walker, criticised councillors for disregarding the advice of their officers.

"We have jumped through hoops but it seems we have been doing it for the wrong people," he said.

The Longs are now considering appealing to the local government ombudsman, which could lead to a public inquiry.

Mrs Long added: "There's little point re-applying, the goalposts will be shifted again.

"It's gutting because this issue has an emotional side to it. We just want to retire here."