A PLANNING inspector has approved an external fire escape on a chalet bungalow despite concerns raised by Wiltshire Council.

Barrie Sutherland applied to build the staircase in order to provide an external fire escape from a bedroom in the roof space at his home in New Bridge Road, Salisbury.

Wiltshire councillors ruled it would be out of keeping with the area, but planning inspector Jacqueline Wilkinson has allowed the plan at appeal.

She said a deep front garden and a hedge, along with the simple appearance of the structure, would mean it would not be unacceptably dominant or unattractive.