Twins Shirley Moad and Fay Petty, in their late 70s, yesterday described the possibility of a three storey office block being constructed next to their home of nearly 60 years as “a nightmare coming true”.

After the two-day hearing in the Land and Environment Court, which finished yesterday, developers Savage Property Enterprises agreed to completely remove the controversial ‘saw tooth roof’ of the planned office block design.

The concession wiped off over 400 square metres of floor space, or an entire storey, from the proposed building.

Other minor aesthetic changes were also made to the exterior of the building during the court proceedings.

The compromises mean the building now complies with Orange City Council planning policies and could be approved by court commissioner Annelise Tuor this Friday at 4pm, a devastating blow to Shirley and her sister Fay.

“The whole thing is now in the hands of the commissioner and we still have to wait to get that decision at the end of the week,” said Fay’s daughter Lesley Matilka yesterday.

“Their barrister was up there saying Mum and her sister may only be living here for a few more years because of their age, so why bother accommodating their concerns. It was very upsetting to hear that assumption made in the court.”

At another stage during proceedings Savage Property Enterprises solicitors suggested structural alterations be made to the Moad’s property to address concerns about overshadowing, again causing visible anger from members of the gallery who had gathered in opposition to the redevelopment plans.

Orange City Council spokesperson Nick Redmond said the amended designs submitted to the court “address concerns raised by council and the community” and that the plans now substantially differed to those rejected by council in March.

Comment was sought from Savage Property Enterprises but was not provided at the time of going to print.