Narrowest house in Britain will be just 9ft wide

A developer has won planning permission to build Britain's narrowest detached house at just nine feet wide. The three-storey property in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. will come complete with two double bedrooms.

Tom Stebbing, architect for the scheme, said: "I think the planning committee were concerned it was narrow but after a site visit they realised it wasn't as narrow as it first appeared and they passed it. It provides a decent family home on a brownfield site."

Jim Thorndyke, vice chairman of St Edmundsbury Borough Council planning committee, said: "I wouldn't want to live in it but some people would be happy with a place like that and it fits in with the planning criteria. It is a bit narrow but that is the choice of the person who is going to develop it."



But the ultra-slim building has been blasted by councillors and neighbours who fear it will clash with the historic area's conservation status.

Council member David Nettleton opposed the proposal at the planning and development committee.

He said he was stunned the council gave permission for such a small home to be built - branding the decision "madness".