Cornwall Council has given the green light to controversial renovation plans for St Mawes' historic Pomery's garage building, going against planning officers who wanted it refused.
The decision came after a heated committee meeting on Monday, where councillors chose community benefits over concerns about a neighbour's outlook.
Planning officers had recommended turning down the proposal after expressing concerns about how it would affect the outlook from 8 Bohella Road next door.
But councillors voted eight to two in favour of the plans, deciding that saving the Roseland Rowing and Gig Club was more important than the neighbour's reduced outlook.
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The building dates back to the late 18th or early 19th century, when it served as a pilchard warehouse.
It later became famous for its vintage petrol pumps and 1930s windows, with gigs stored on the street outside.
Artist and musician Brenda Pye lived there before leaving the property to the Roseland Rowing and Gig Club in her will.
Previous attempts to save the deteriorating building have failed.
Cornwall Council has given the green light to controversial renovation plans for St Mawes' historic Pomery's garage building, going against planning officers who wanted it refused
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A larger scheme proposing gig club facilities, heritage space and flats was rejected in 2023 and lost on appeal last year.
Builder and former gig rower Mr B Chenoweth brought forward the latest scaled-down proposal, planning to demolish a run-down two-storey extension and build a slightly taller replacement to house both the gig club and a residential unit.
The meeting sparked a fascinating debate about planning law that left some councillors scratching their heads.
Councillor Julian German admitted he'd never encountered 'outlook' as a planning issue in his two decades of service.
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"In our training, we're very much told that an individual's view isn't a material planning consideration, but we now seem to have the introduction of 'outlook'," he said.
This prompted a sharp response from Councillor Joanna Kenny: "You wouldn't have seen my jaw dropping when you announced that outlook isn't a material planning consideration. I've been fighting this battle for over ten years."
A planning officer stepped in to clarify: "View is an aesthetic, outlook is how you enjoy your home - that's the difference."
The committee's chair, Councillor Dulcie Tudor, summed up the dilemma as a "classic" case of "neighbour impact versus community benefit".
When Councillor James Ball moved to refuse the application, citing harm to the neighbouring property, the motion failed with just three votes in favour, five against and two abstentions.
Councillor Kenny then made the winning proposal, arguing that the community gains from preserving the gig club outweighed any limited impact on the neighbour's outlook.
She even suggested the neighbour's outlook might improve, replacing the current "grotty" building with something better designed.
Her motion passed decisively, with eight councillors backing the plans and only two opposing.
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