A house extension that exceeded the council’s approved size limit by two meters is facing demolition orders. The planning committee of a council in Bolton heard that the extension, deemed ‘overbearing’, intruded on a neighbor’s dining room, kitchen, and garden. The applicant, Mr. M Azeen, had submitted a retrospective proposal to retain the flat roof structure at the rear of a house in Farnworth. The extension, located five meters from the original structure, exceeded the approved plans by 2.1 meters.
Planners argued that allowing the extension would harm the neighboring property’s amenity by partially blocking light to a main room and the garden. Councillors were informed that the extension encroached on a 45-degree line drawn from the center of the closest ground floor window in the neighboring property’s rear elevation.
This application was a resubmission of a previous retrospective application that was rejected based on its impact on neighbors’ living conditions. Despite a supporter of the application arguing that the extension was essential for the applicant’s growing family, the committee voted 10 to four to reject the retrospective application.
Unless a successful appeal is lodged, the applicant will have to demolish the extension or adjust it to comply with the original approved plans. This decision echoes a recent case where a homeowner had to dismantle his summer home after a lengthy dispute with a neighbor.