A grandmother has been denied her last wish to end her days in the house where she was born.
Elsie Knowles, 88, is now living out of a suitcase with relatives after her family’s plans to renovate the house were rejected by Wandsworth Council because of a blanket policy.
The family were further angered to discover most of her neighbours had done the same work without bothering to get planning permission.
Her daughter Valerie George, 45, said: “Every way we turned we were knocked back by stupid and petty policies, rules and regulations.
“We are being penalised for wanting to do things honestly. That makes me bitter.”
Her mother, who is partially blind and can barely walk, wanted to spend her last years in her own house in Steerforth Street, Earlsfield, but it was too dilapidated and she could not afford repairs.
Her son-in-law, who is divorced from her daughter, offered to pay for its conversion into two flats and live in one of them himself, but was told it was against borough policy to break up family homes.
The planning committee wanted to keep the two-bedroom house intact for other families, but the Georges said they never intended to sell it and would pass it on to the grandchildren.
They are calling for the council to consider applications on individual merit, and have vowed to fight the decision as far as they can.
Mrs George said: “I feel my mother’s rights are being completely ignored.
"She has a right to a private and family life and a right to peacefully enjoy her property for the few remaining years of her life.”
A council spokesman said: “We considered this application carefully but unfortunately, under the planning guidelines and rules, it was not possible to approve this conversion.
"This is a small two-bedroom terrace house and it is not big enough to divide into two flats.
"We have made a number of suggestions as to how the property could be improved without splitting it up into flats.”
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