FILM star Benedict Cumberbatch has backed down over plans to build a 15-square metre building in the garden of his new Dartmouth Park home – after a series of objections from neighbours.

The Sherlock star had asked the Town Hall for permission to build what his designers described as a shed – but which opponents said was a large outhouse. Now the 41-year-old actor has withdrawn the controversial bid to cover the bottom end of his garden with the building. Neighbours said the plans would set a precedent for large outhouses in gardens of their Victorian streets.

They added that the “shed”, as the application described it, would tower over garden walls and cut out light. A neighbour, who did not wish to named, told the New Journal: “It wasn’t the best way to say: ‘Hello, we’ve moved in’ – especially after they have spent the best part of two years ripping a house to bits.”

An agent working on the scheme would not comment.