TWO new homes built on the site of the old Ship Inn in Mantle Street, Wellington, will not now have to be demolished.

Planning inspector Melissa Hall, of the Planning Inspectorate, has allowed Roger Bird’s appeal against Taunton Deane Borough Council’s enforcement notice, issued in February, to have the properties pulled down within 12 months.

Mr Bird turned the pub into two houses and knocked down a two-storey function room and single-storey skittle alley to build three mews homes behind it.

But members of Taunton Deane’s

planning committee decided that two of the properties unacceptably overlooked a neighbour’s garden and asked for the enforcement notice.

As a condition of the appeal decision windows on the first floor of the properties concerned will have to have obscure glazing and restrictive opening stays.

In addition, bin storage facilities, covered and secure storage for at least four bikes and a bollard preventing parking within the development will have to be provided.