A QC who specialises in town and country planning has become embroiled in a row over his new eco-home in Tunley woods near Far Oakridge.

Harry Wolton has come under fire because his German kit house is 1.5 metres higher than originally planned.

The property, which is nearly complete, lies in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and objectors who live in nearby villages say it now breaches the treeline and ruins the view.

However, Mr Wolton insists that he has not breached the terms of the original planning application because the property, called Springbank House, is technically the same height as originally stated.

It is more visible because the ground level on which it was built is higher than planned.

In a statement, Mr Wolton, 73, a member of the Planning and Environment Bar Association - a professional organisation for barristers involved in local government, planning and environmental law - said: "The house now built is the same height as that permitted under S10/0793/FUL (the original planning application).

"All that has changed is that the ground level under the house is 1.5 metres higher than originally anticipated in the earlier application."

The matter will now be debated at Stroud District Council’s development control committee on Tuesday, April 26, where a revised application is being recommended for approval by officers, who say the change is insignificant.

When the original application was submitted last year, SDC received just one letter of objection.

However, the increase in visibility has angered many and on Saturday more than 40 villagers gathered near the property to draw attention to their concerns.

SDC has received nearly 100 letters of objection to the new application.

Bisley-with-Lypiatt Parish Council has objected, saying: "The prominence and starkness thrust out and dominate the long-distance view.

"The view from the highway alongside the building on the original approved proposal was not one of eye catching dominance because it was set down in the valley below the hedge line, this is no longer the case."

Vanessa Fairer, who lives half-a-mile from the building, said: "The house has completely destroyed the view, it can be seen from miles around."

Mr Wolton, who works from chambers in Birmingham, and his wife Julie currently live next door to the property in a cottage which will be demolished when the eco-home is finished next month.