A FURIOUS homeowner has been ordered to tear down his brand new house – even though none of his neighbours had complained about it.
Officials say Graham Ralph must demolish the six-bed property because it doesn’t comply with building regulations.
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He had applied for retrospective planning permission for the three-storey home. However, the application was thrown out by a committee who blasted the build as “visually intrusive and incongruous”.
Neighbours in Flixton, Greater Manchester say they have no issues with the property, which was built on land previously occupied by garages.
Retired butcher Arthur Holdsworth, 72, has lived next-door to the Ralph family for around 30 years.
He said: “It’s a house in a residential area and my complaint is that it hasn’t been finished properly.
“That’s the council’s fault, not the developer’s, and they should let him finish it. It isn’t an eyesore.
“It isn’t spoiling anybody’s view – there is nothing for anyone to object to.”
Recruitment manager Alex Taylor, 43, who lives over the road, said: “It’s ridiculous – we’ve Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian houses, as well as post-war properties like ours.
“Can we not have modern homes?”
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He said the build must be finished, adding: “Staring at a partially-built home is worse than looking at a finished property.
“There was a big double garage there before and it’s not something that is towering over us – it’s completely in keeping. We want a finished house.”
Furniture deliveryman Gavin Hartley, 40, said: “It’s a fiasco that it’s been stopped. It should be finished off.
“I drive past here all the time and it’s completely in keeping.
“People should be allowed to improve their own residential areas with nice properties – it’s not the green belt.”
It’s a fiasco that it’s been stopped. It should be finished off
Gavin Hartley
Architect Alex Ward, 23, said the plans would “certainly” pass in nearby Cheshire.
“There’s no wave of opposition to the build at all – there have been absolutely no objections from the residents,” he added.
Another called the local authority’s decision “barmy” and branded officials “clowns”.
Council chiefs say the home in Marlborough Road doesn’t comply with regulations relating to fire safety and accessibility.
Trafford Council granted permission for a four-bedroom two storey house in 2015. However, the time period for the build had “expired”, meaning there was no planning permission for the work, it was said.
Read more on planning permission battles
The property also “differs significantly” from the original plans, councillors claim.
A report says: “In its current form, it would not comply with the building regulations in respect of fire safety and accessibility.”
The property must now be demolished completely as it “does not reflect local character and distinctiveness”.
The report also concluded that it “appears as a visually intrusive and incongruous element in the street scene, harmful to the character and appearance of the area”.
Speaking for Mr Ralph, Flixton ward councillor Simon Thomas said it was intended that Mr Ralph would live in the home with his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
“Mr Ralph has sought to meet [planning] officers, but this has not come to fruition,” he said.
Mr Ralph chose not to comment directly to The Sun.
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How to apply for planning permission for a new home
Brits looking to build their own home must obtain planning permission to do so.
The process is always painstaking, and will require research, writing and design, as well as hours of review with professionals and council chiefs.
Many will find the best way forward is to seek the help of professional architects and planning consultants.
When the council makes its decision, it only considers certain issues, which are known as ‘material planning considerations’.
This can include loss of sunlight, loss of privacy to other properties, noise or disturbance, loss of outlook and highway issues.
It’s for your planning authority to decide what weight is to be given to these material considerations in your case.
If permission is granted, the local authority grants you the rights to build a certain property of a certain size on a certain plot.
- Information from Urbanist Architecture
