A HOTELIER is "delighted" to have been given permission to build his controversial dream home over looking a Gower beauty spot.

Martin Morgan's plans to build the concrete and glass house in Penmaen — with views of Three Cliffs — were approved by Swansea Council's planning and petitions committee yesterday, following a drawn-out application process.

The entrepreneur, who owns Morgans Hotel in the city and made his fortune building up the Travel House, said he hoped the home would be completed by next summer.

"I'm delighted," he said. "It has been a long process, but I think we've come up with something that should suit everybody. We will be living in it the majority of the time. I'm a Swansea boy born and bred and I can't think of a better place to live or a better view. I hope, once we've dotted the i's and crossed the t's, we can start construction in a few weeks and we will be looking at using local labour."

Mr Morgan originally applied to replace Bryn Cottage with a new modern home in 2008, with planning officer approval.

Objectors to the house said it was out of character compared with neighbouring properties and not in keeping with Gower — an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The fact it wasn't discussed by councillors raised eyebrows in the local community and ward member Richard Lewis came under scrutiny for not calling in the application. However, building came to a halt because the property was higher than plans.

Amended plans then went before the South West Area Planning Committee in June of this year, but they were called in to the planning and petitions committee by Mr Lewis.

Speaking at the planning meeting in Swansea Civic Centre, Frances Owen John said, on behalf of Ilston Community Council, the development was not in keeping with the building originally on the site, which was a thatched cottage.

She said she also feared it would set a precedent for the construction of other "out-of-character" houses in Gower.

"If this is approved we could be going into dangerous territory," she said.

Senior planning officer Dave Gill said he was aware the property was "overtly modern". However, he said: "We should encourage high- quality architecture as long as it's carefully considered. The Design Council of Wales had a small number of reservations. This has the potential to be an outstanding example of modern architecture in a sensitive area."

The application was approved with seven added conditions including removing spoil and stone stored on land next to the house.

At the planning meeting, councillor Des Thomas also called for tree preservation order (TPO) on all trees in the site.

The majority of the councillors agreed with the proposal and planning officers are now looking at placing a TPO on all mature living trees on the site.

Mr Morgan said of the TPO: "I completely and utterly agree with that. We want to keep trees which have been there for 200 years."

helen.keates@swwmedia.co.uk