Members of Argyll and Bute Council's Bute and Cowal area committee agreed unanimously on Tuesday to reject the application by Barryrange Ltd for the top floor of the Buckingham Terrace block in the village's Castle Street.

The committee agreed with their planning officers' recommendation that the application should be refused because alterations to the roof of the block, and the window types used in the redevelopment, went against the council's emerging planning policies.

Confirmation that the redevelopment of the block has split Port Bannatyne down the middle was received when a background report, only published on the morning of the meeting, revealed the application had attracted seven letters of objection and two petitions with 16 names - but also two letters of support and a further petition with 55 names attached.

The developer had asked to be allowed to proceed with work which did not conform to an existing planning permission, granted in July 2008.
In particular the planners agreed with concerns expressed about the unauthorised changes to the roof shape on the rear of the block, looking towards Kames Bay, and with the position of the dormer windows on the front of the block, looking towards Bannatyne Mains Road.

However, the planners expressed no worries about issues of privacy and overlooking.

David Eaglesham, from the council's planning department, told the meeting: "We felt we had compromised certain of our standards on this building because the applicant felt he needed to develop the roof space to make the project viable.

"Clearly he has not adhered to the roof plans as originally proposed, and the windows installed are not what was approved.

"Our concerns, firstly, are with the flat-roofed extension on the seaward side of the block, and secondly, we are a little bit concerned about the position of the front-facing dormer windows."

However, Mr Eaglesham said he felt it was perfectly feasible, in technical terms, to turn the building into something which would be acceptable to the planning department.