NEIGHBOURS have won a battle against Ealing's GLA member Onkar Sahota to stop him developing his house and installing a large glass box on the roof they say would light-up the area 'like a beacon'.

Plans for the home in Castlebar Road, Ealing, included digging underground to create a large basement, extending the ground floor, raising the lower part of the roof and installing a glass rooflight more than 6 metres wide and two meters high which would stick up above the building.

Victor Mishiku who lives on the same street and has spent decades fighting detrimental developments took up the case to help his neighbours.

He said: "When the lights are on the glass box would be like a beacon. I've never seen anything like it in my life."

But Mr Sahota insisted the development would have been 'sympathetic' to the area and his neighbours and will appeal the decision.

About 120 people objected saying it is totally out of keeping with the Hanger Hill Estate, part of the Haven Green Conservation area.

Mr Mishiku, said: "This estate is the reason Ealing is called Queen of the suburbs. This development is contrary to every policy going."

He said there were fears for leafy Longfield Walk footpath because there would be no other way for the heavy machinery needed to access the site.

And Mr Sahota’s next door neighbour’s home would be made uninhabitable by the work as it would have butted up against it making the two homes semi-detached for the first time in their 128-year histories.

Peter Causer, the town hall’s former head of planning for the area had also sent a long letter urging councillors to refuse the scheme.

The ex-Ealing Council officer said it would be “entirely inappropriate for this sensitive location.”

Council officers recommended the development should be approved. A decision which some councillors on the 13-strong committee last Wednesday March 13 described as out of touch with reality.

Ten councillors rejected the plans and three abstained.

Dr Sahota said: “It was my hope that with the plans approved, work could have begun in order for my children and I to move in before Christmas. Any suggestion that I would knowingly and willingly do damage to my neighbours or the local area is deeply and personally hurtful."