Civic chiefs say a man from a Hampshire village cannot convert his own barn into a home, despite having lived on the site for 20 years.

Fred Watts, a handyman from Bishop’s Sutton, has owned a small plot of land on Northside Lane since 1989 and applied to convert a disused barn.

Winchester City Council’s planning committee heard that the 69-year-old was a man of modest means and currently lives in a caravan on the plot.

It was told that Mr Watts was able to carry out the improvements largely due to the “goodwill” of local tradesmen and villagers.

Speaking in support of the applicant, Councillor Simon Cook said: “He is a well-known and popular local character. You might ask how the applicant can afford a planning consultant – there is goodwill towards this man.”

Officers said the development contradicted various council policies, such as there being no demonstrable agricultural need to convert the barn and that the applicant had not proved the site to be unsuitable for employment purposes.

But Cllr Jane Rutter supported Mr Watts, proposing a condition which would restrict the use of the barn as a home to the duration of Mr Watts’ lifetime.

She said: “I think we have a duty to him to allow him to live out the rest of his days in a modicum of comfort on his land. I think it’s the humane thing for this council to do.”

The city’s portfolio holder for new homes delivery, Cllr Ian Tait, called the decision “absolutely disgusting”.