PLANNERS who said no to a Grand Designs eco-home conversion of a grass-covered reservoir have now given the go ahead for a more modest three-bedroomed single-storey house.

Approval for the development at the Ruardean Hill reservoir has been granted despite concerns from the neighbouring century-old sports club of wayward cricket balls smashing windows and possibly causing serious injury.

The underground hilltop reservoir, which stands next to a trig point, was sold at auction in 2018 by Severn Trent Water, who labelled it a “rural heaven” location for anyone with ambitions of creating a state-of-the-art home.

They said there was “strong potential for innovative conversion to alternative uses, including Grand Design-style conversion to residential or holiday accommodation use.”

But Forest planners refused to give the green light for plans to convert and extend it into a two-storey eco-home last year, complete with a flat-top roof at a 45 degree angle and filled with glass to provide natural light and take advantage of the 360 degree views.

Turning down the scheme last November, they said it was “tantamount to the erection of a new dwelling… in the open countryside,” while its “vast flat roof” in a prominent hilltop location between Baptist Way and Highview Road would have an “unacceptable impact” on neighbouring houses and fail “to preserve or enhance the character of the area.”

Applicants John Weston Investments of Wessex had claimed it was “an innovative and outstanding design that transforms the existing reservoir into a habitable space, celebrating the existing reservoir and paying homage to the important role it has played in providing water.”

But a revised scheme excluding a garage and first floor extension and adding just a modest ground floor extension to the existing structure has now won approval.

The development will be topped by a grassed roof system and have reduced banks to let light in.

Chris Rawlings, vice-chairman of Ruardean Hill Sports Club, had told Forest planners wayward footballs and cricket balls had been flying onto the reservoir for years.

“Cricket balls are very solid projectiles and as such have great potential to cause property damage and/or serious or fatal injury,” he said.

He asked planners to impose a condition that the club should bear no legal liability for any damage caused, and that the new owners grant access for the recovery of any balls.

He also suggested that a high quality mesh fence be put up on the boundary of the property to stop balls enetering.

However, the scheme was approved without setting any conditions meeting the club’s concerns.