PLANNING chiefs have given the all-clear for work to restart at a controversial flats complex.

Last month the Daily Echo reported how workers, embroiled in the aftermath of Swanage's battle over Sea Court, had been ordered to down tools after neighbours complained they were building too high.

Purbeck planning bosses stepped in after Sea Court Action Group (SCAG) members - who lost their long fight to save the Victorian house from developers months ago - said approved plans were being ignored.

So developers voluntarily stopped work at the Taunton Road site for five days while blueprints came back under the microscope.

But yesterday Purbeck District Council head of development Mike Grime said: "As far as we are concerned the developers are proceeding in accordance with the approved plans."

Developers are converting the house into five flats and building eight new apartments next door.

Work started again after it emerged the historic Victorian house was actually one metre shorter than on the plans, giving the impression the new building was too high.

Mr Grime also said Taunton Road, which is on a hill, had been poorly surveyed and the incline is lower than on the plans, giving the impression the building is higher.

He stressed: "The complaint was about the new building, but we have checked all plans and it has proved to be more a perception of height than actual height."

SCAG spokesman Bett Paxton-Brunning had argued: "Judging by the height of the ground floor of the new building that can be seen on the site right now, the height has been increased by approximately two metres."

Neighbours lost their fight against the flats complex, which has been the subject of three planning appeals, earlier this year. Builders finally moved on to the plot in the summer.

Campaigners say the extra flats will ruin the Victorian character of Sea Court, built in 1894 and the one-time home of celebrated artist George William Joy.