The rectangular wooden room, built at the bottom of a garden in Lairds Crescent, in Haddington, was recommended for approval when it went before East Lothian Council’s planning committee this week.

However, councillors were told 13 objections to the three-metre high room were lodged with claims it was too big, out of character with the other homes and impacted on the views from neighbouring gardens.

A report to the committee said among the objections raised were claims “the structure is of a size that will be overbearing and cause intimidation of surrounding properties”.

It was also claimed that if planning permission was granted for the five-metre long garden room which is already in place “the value of the surrounding properties will be affected” and “quality of life of the occupants of the neighbouring properties will suffer”.

Despite the claims planning officers said the garden room was “appropriate” to the rear garden setting of the house.

They said: “It does not appear as a harmfully dominant, overbearing, intrusive or incongruous feature within the rear garden of the house.

“Neither does it result in an overdevelopment of the rear garden of the property.

“Consequently it is not harmful to the character and appearance of the house or to the character and appearance of the area.”

Committee members approved the part-retrospective application for the garden room and increase in height of a fence at the property by eight votes to three. An additional condition was added which means the applicant will need to submit a plan to ensure adequate drainage at the site.