A planning application which was delayed for so long that it was sent birthday and Christmas cards by its frustrated architect, has been given the green light by City of York Council.

Members of the north-west area planning and transport sub-committee have approved the plan to build a granny flat and roof extension to a house in Mount Vale, York.

At a previous meeting, members had asked the developers to consider glazing proposed roof-lights with obscured glass and imposing restrictions on how far they would open to ensure the privacy of neighbouring properties. But the officers recommended to councillors that the plans, that were first submitted in September 2001, should be approved.

Architect Matthew Laverack, had sent the plan a birthday card "to cheer it up a bit" and a Christmas card "to let it know it hadn't been forgotten".

He said: "It has been a long time coming. The planning committee were as good as gold. I'm very pleased and look forward to a positive relationship with the council in the future."

Richard Graham, area development control officer for City of York Council said: "It's what we recommended, and the members agreed it should go through."

An application for a day nursery at Scarcroft Primary School, York, was also given the go-ahead. The development will involve the conversion of a two- storey theatre/workshop and single-storey bike shed into a day nursery with a single-storey link extension and formation of play area. Karen Bartlett, general manager for developer York Childcare Limited, said it had received New Opportunities Fund lottery cash to help with costs during the nursery's first year.

Updated: 08:33 Friday, March 21, 2003