He has now been ordered to rebuild its roof.

Warwick District Council granted Chris Whalley permission to part demolish, rebuild and extend the outbuilding behind his house at 4 Wood Street in 2004.

The plans he submitted showed the height of the new building as 9.1 metres - which he said was the same height as the former coach house.

But once the redeveloped property went up, neighbours found it overshadowed their homes - indicating it was much higher than the original.

Objector David Gallemore, of Rosefield Street, told planners: "What was once a modest, charming outbuilding which impinged in no way on residents' views has become an eyesore which looms over all other buildings in the area and has caused substantial loss of light for residents."

At a district council planning committee meeting on Tuesday, officers said Mr Whalley had rebuilt the former coach house to a height of 9.9 metres - 0.8 metres higher than he was given permission to do - and recommended he change it.

They also said photographic evidence "strongly suggested" the original building was around 8.6 not 9.1 metres high, but had no written evidence to prove this.

Objector Coun Bob Crowther (Lab, Leamington Clarendon) said: "I would ask you to consider going further than the enforcement action proposed - it should be taken down to the original height.

"Digging out old photographs and convincing the planners there was a disparity has been a long saga for residents.

"He has built it bigger than the plans approved and the plans were based on a false premise.

"It's a detriment to the enjoyment of residents' homes."

Mr Whalley, a technician at the Spa Centre, admitted to planners he had "mistakenly applied" a steeper angle when building the roof, but denied it "blighted" the neighbourhood.

He added the project has always been of a "do it yourself nature" and said he would not be able to afford to re-do the roof if forced to knock it down.

The committee voted unanimously that Mr Whalley be made to reduce the height of the roof to 9.1 meters in accordance with the original planning permission granted by the council.