A FAMILY with a severely disabled daughter has appealed a planning decision after they found conditions placed on their scheme for a new house are preventing them getting a mortgage.

Rebecca and Damien Thursby were thrilled last year when the eastern area planning committee agreed their could build specially adapted home in Patney, near Devizes next to the home of their daughter Sophia's grandparents.

Mrs Thursby said at the time: "It was very emotional and I am so overwhelmed and relieved. I now won't need to be on my own coping with resuscitating Sophia. I will have help and the enormous difference this will make to our family is not only life-changing but life-saving."

But the couple have now found that one of the conditions is preventing them getting a mortgage. Mrs Thursby said: "We've appealed one of the conditions as it is preventing us from getting a selfbuild mortgage.

"Because one of the conditions stipulates that only we can live in the home for the first five years we can't find anyone to lend to us, as if we were to default on a payment then the mortgage lender couldn't sell the property on. Hopefully we can get it amended."

The family has been heavily involved with fundraising for the new Julia's House hospice in Devizes and gets support by its nurses and carers for Sophia, three. Originally planning officers recommended plans for the new house should be turned down but committee members decided the family's needs outweighed planning objections.

Mrs Thursby said at the time: "Being allowed to build this house really could be the difference between life and death for Sophia. At the moment Sophia not only has seizures but she is also sick at the same time.

"So I have to try and resuscitate her and clear sick from her airways. You really need two people to be able to do that safely. If we lived next door to her grandparents they would always be just moments away.”

The appeal will be decided by written representation and anyone who wants to comment should write to the planning inspectorate in Bristol within five weeks of the appeal start date of May 22.