A DECISION on plans for a building scheme at Haberdashers' Monmouth School has been deferred to try get part of the project changed.

The school wants to convert former dormitories into three homes but plans to also build a new house in the garden have proved controversial.

Residents of the The Burgage say the proposed new building at St James's Square would be built just metres from their homes and would be "oppressive".

Monmouthshire Council's planning committee put off making a decision on the entire scheme to allow time to seek the removal of the new-build house.

Mr Robert Pharoah, who lives in The Burgage, said: "I and other residents at The Burgage, in particular, numbers 9, 10, 11 will be seriously affected by the proposed new dwelling which will stretch over the backs of our houses, only 6.5 metres from our back windows. The proposed dwelling is 5.8 metres high, 16 metres long and being so close, this will have a looming and oppressive effect over our properties.

"The Haberdashers plan to restore three buildings in St James's to their original state and convert a barn to a two story house also in the garden of St James's house. The barn conversion would sit comfortably in relation to the other buildings, but the proposed new dwelling will be shoe horned into the small garden to infringe privacy and be overly intrusive and light depriving over residents in The Burgage."

In a report to the planning committee, officers said the visual impact of the new house would not be significant.

But councillors decided that efforts should be made to remove the new house from the scheme.