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A planning battle which has divided neighbours in a quiet courtyard in Canonbury ended in victory for a home-owner at a tense planning meeting on Tuesday.

But the planning committee – split two for and two against – only gave the go-ahead after chairman Councillor Martin Klute used his casting vote.

Architect Emma Dixon was granted permission to add an “angular” third-storey roof extension to her contemporary home in Colony Mews despite fierce opposition from neighbours.

One even one launched a legal action against Islington Council, which passed an earlier application for the same extension in January before agreeing to quash the decision due to errors by planning officers. It landed the Town Hall with a £3,500 bill for court costs.

Ms Dixon resubmitted the application and, with an updated report from officers, it was given the go-ahead after a knife-edge debate.

Colony Mews, a terrace of four houses in a small space behind Mildmay Grove North, was des­igned by award-winning Peter Barber Architects.

The property is within Newington Green Conservation Area, which means there is a presumption against granting permission for roof extensions.

But council officers argued that the extension would actually enhance the development and said that, as a backland site, it would not be visible to the public.

Opposing the application, neighbour Sophie Pearson said the council’s logic in granting the decision would be “flawed”. “Islington Council treats its own guidelines as a moveable feast,” she added. Another neighbour, Carol Carney, said the idea that the extension would enhance the appearance was “absurd”.

In formal objections submitted to the council, neighbours said the extension would be too dominant and would overlook other properties and block sunlight. They felt it would be unfair as other properties in the mews are blocked from having roof extensions due to a legal covenant.

Lawyer Sophie Pearson, who began the legal action against the council earlier this year, told the Tribune: “If I hadn’t taken the time to plough through the guidance myself no one would have been any the wiser. The system shouldn’t have to rely on people like me taking things to the wire to get results and I worry what else is going on in the planning department that isn’t being picked up by the public.”

She added: “I maintain the application shouldn’t have been recommended for approval but at least the issues have been aired and debated more thoroughly than last time.”

Paul Dixon, who shares 4 Colony Mews with wife Emma, and is also an architect, said he was “very pleased” with the committee’s decision.

“They are not massive properties and with the design we feel we mitigated the issues like overlooking and loss of light,” he added.

The couple, who bought the house in 2007, began looking at designs for extensions a year-and-a-half ago. “We could have gone for more floor area but we didn’t want it to have a detrimental impact on the building. It is quite an angled design, more of a roofscape really,” Mr Dixon added.