Curtains for houses 3ft too high

The developers said they were "disappointed" at losing the appeal

Two new houses in a Cornish village are to be demolished because they are just under 3ft too high.

The two houses form part of a development of five by M&N Developments Limited in Blisland near Bodmin.

But they have been built higher than plans agreed by North Cornwall District Council.

An appeal by the developer was dismissed by a planning inspector and the houses will have to be demolished within six months.

'Incredibly stupid'

The pretty village of Blisland is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has a Norman church which was the subject of a poem by John Betjeman.

The inspector said: "The proportions of the front elevations are completely destroyed by the substantial under-building which has resulted in the higher finished floor levels.

I can't understand the mentality of anyone that wants to knock down a house for the sake of a couple of feet Joe Spriggs, neighbour

"The overall effect of the increased height is to make these dwellings appear massive and over-dominant in the street scene.

"The development as built fails to respect the scale, character and appearance of the immediate surroundings and the wider environment."

Neighbour Joe Spriggs said: "I think it's incredibly stupid.

"I can't understand the mentality of anyone that wants to knock down a house for the sake of a couple of feet.

"Is it really going to make any difference?"

But Malcolm Price, head of development control at North Cornwall District Council, said: "The site is in a sensitive location and it is important that the visual qualities of this part of the street scene of Blisland should not be harmed.

"Councillors would certainly not have approved the application if it had been submitted with these proportions, and this is why we took action."

The developers said they were "very disappointed", but were unable to comment further due to legal advice.