Blundering council officers accidentally approved plans to build a block of flats before neighbours had the chance to voice their dismay.

Barnet Borough Council admitted it made an error in rubber stamping proposals to add a basement flat to a block in Woodstock Avenue, Golders Green, instead of sending it to the planning committee.

Despite the mistake, two objectors were allowed to speak up at the meeting and discuss their why they felt “ghastly” plans should be rejected at a meeting in October.

Councillors then ordered developers Morphuse to amend “irregularities and incorrect points” in the plans, before discussing them again the following week.

During this time, a planning officer visited the site and, in an e-mail seen by the Times Series, said it would cause a “harmful” loss of light.

But after seeking legal advice, the authority discovered it would have to pay Morphuse a sum in the region of £50,000 in compensation if the plans were rejected.

As a result, the plans were eventually approved at a private meeting from which the press and public were barred, due to the “financial risk to the council of revoking or modifying permission”.

Morphuse will, however, have to erect a wall around the entrance to the basement flat to protect the privacy of those living nearby.

Father-of-three Russell Sheldon, who has lived in his home for 30 years, said: “There’s something very deceptive about this. We feel we’ve reached a dead end as we’ve told we can’t appeal.

“They are running the roughshod over us. It’s crazy that because the correct procedure hasn’t been followed, we have to lose out by not getting to go to that second meeting. We are disgusted.”

His neighbour, 80-year-old Yuval Racs said: “It’s very fishy. This whole thing is very underhand.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Cohen, who is supporting the residents, said: “It’s outrageous. You can’t hear a planning application in private – that’s unheard of.”

Had they been allowed to voice their objections in the normal way, neighbours would have cited concerns about a loss of light, privacy and shallow foundations.

Mr Sheldon, a chauffeur, said subsidence caused cracks in his bay windows a few years ago and now fears digging to build a basement flat could eventually cause it to sink.

He said: “It’s a very dangerous issue. They aren’t considering the residents and they aren’t listening to our views. I am so angry about this.”

Mr Racs, who rents out two flats next door to the building, said the fence would “severely” block the light into the downstairs living room.

Yarden Wirth, 34, has lived in his house for the past two years with his wife, Lisa, and their 15-month-old daughter.

The entrance to the new basement flat would be directly opposite his daughter’s nursery and their bathroom, as well as restricting access to his side of the property.

He said: “Who would want a wall built in front of their house? That fence is not a suitable alternative. To them it’s a business, but to us it’s our home.”

Elad Farkash, director of Morphuse, said: “We went through a planning process and we tackled the issues the council asked us to. We don’t think there’s a privacy issue – we have obscured the windows. I am sorry for all this. If the council revokes planning permission, we’ll pursue them for legal costs as we are well within our right to.”

The Times Series has requested a comment from Barnet Borough Council.