A planning application that has created “a nightmarish situation” for neighbours continues after years of wrangling.

Councillors voted to reject the officers’ recommendation to allow permission for an extension to 1 Molesham Way, West Molesey, but because the vote had not been formally moved, the item will be have to be heard at a full planning committee.

The application prompted 16 letters of objection from 14 addresses, detailing concerns about incomplete work from previous applications, over-development of the plot and the current state of the garden.

A neighbour expressed dismay that an existing project could go on for so long without conclusion, calling out during the meeting that he would “blow it up” if the proposal was approved.

Principal planning officer Paul Falconer said: “The extension would not have a negative impact. The recommendation from officers is to grant permission.”

Speaking on behalf of objectors, former councillor Ian T Donaldson, said: “I am aware that the officer’s report recommends ‘permit’ and I would go along with that if this had been a normal situation where an outhouse was going to be built by a professional builder in, say, six to eight weeks.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is far from a normal situation.”

The meeting heard how a previous application for work at the address, while not granted to Jason Bioletti, the owner and current applicant, was inherited by him when he purchased the house about 14 years ago and was still not complete.

Peter Ellis, 60, of Molesham Way, said: “The prospect of years more of this fills neighbours with despair. Surely the system must be there to help normal people?”

Council Leader John O’Reilly, who had not been to the site, was careful to stress that the committee must act on planning rules when making their decision, but consented that the site and proposal sounded like “a visual armageddon”.

Mr Bioletti and his representative did not attend the meeting.