PLANS to redevelop a former vicarage in Christchurch have stalled after a councillor suggested the application might be on “dodgy territory”.

A proposal to divide the listed 11-bedroom property on Quay Road into two dwellings had been recommended for approval at Thursday night’s planning control committee meeting.

It had already sparked some controversy after work on the site began without permission and items inside the house, including a historic fire place, were dumped in the property’s garden.

Developer Tony Sweeney had initially wanted to convert the building into a large holiday home before reservations were raised that it might turn into a “party house”. He has since agreed not to install hot tubs or a swimming pool.

However, despite the committee hearing the developer was “under time pressure”, the decision was deferred after Cllr Trevor Watts raised concerns that the required 21 days to consult the public on the plans had not been fulfilled.

Quizzing the council officers, Cllr Watts said: “I am a little confused. May 13 was when the drawings were released and today is the 28th – that’s 15 days later. Surely there are still a number of days to go for the public to consult? They can’t consult because we’re sat here talking about it. Why are we discussing this if the 21 days have not elapsed?”

After the officers claimed they “understood the changes were only small”, Cllr Watts retorted: "Surely we have to wait no matter how big or small the amendment is? It is still an amendment and we have to wait the 21 days. Is that statutory? Is that the law? Or are we on dodgy territory?”

Despite the officers asserting the amendments did not “go to the heart of the application”, another committee member, Cllr Peter Hall, proposed the decision be deferred until the next meeting - after first blasting the developer for beginning work without permission. .

He said: “The fire place was dumped in the back – surely to goodness that is a material change on a listed building?”

Mr Sweeney’s agent, chartered surveyor Michael Shepherd, defended the developer's decision to begin work without planning permission and described it as “generally for repairs”.

After telling the committee the house was “derelict and in a serious level of decay”, he said: “We held back from applying for planning permission because this was dependent on the outcome of the listed building consent application. In March we started preparatory work. Urgent repairs were required to stop roof leaks and damp and the spread of death watch beetle.”

The building has been empty since the departure of Reverend Canon Hugh Williams in 2010.