A house extension that exceeded the approved size by just two meters has been ordered to be demolished by the council. The planning committee of the council heard that the extension was deemed ‘overbearing’ as it overlooked 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 back of a house in Farnworth, Bolton. A report presented revealed that the single-storey rear extension protruded five meters from the original structure, which exceeded the approved plans by 2.1 meters.
Planners argued that allowing the extension would cause significant harm to the neighboring property’s amenity, partially blocking light to a main room and the garden. Councillors were informed that due to the sun path, the private garden would also be overshadowed, affecting the living conditions of the occupants. The main concern raised by officers was the additional 2.1 meters added beyond the approved dimensions, encroaching on a 45-degree line drawn from the center of the nearest ground floor window of the neighboring property.
This application was a resubmission of a previous retrospective application that was rejected by planners in April of the previous year due to its impact on the neighbors’ living conditions. Despite a supporter of the application speaking on behalf of the applicant, expressing that the extension was necessary for the applicant’s growing family, the committee voted 10 to four to reject the application. Unless a successful appeal is made, the applicant will have to either demolish the extension or adjust it to comply with the correct dimensions specified in the original plans.
This decision follows a similar case where a homeowner was compelled to dismantle his summer home after a lengthy dispute with a neighbor who reported the construction to the local council. Andrew Causley sought retrospective planning permission for the structure, which replaced a children’s playhouse in his garden earlier this year, leading to an unexpected conflict with a neighbor he had a longstanding friendly relationship with.
