A woman has been ordered to demolish her newbuild six-bedroom home by the council after it was called ‘unneighbourly and overbearing’.
Neighbours have complained the ‘eyesore’ property in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, blocks all the light from their garden and was not built in accordance with planning regulations.
The row centres on a two-storey extension at the back of the house on Marlow Road which comes out further than what was approved in the original plans.
Locals on Marlow Road have accused the homeowner of ‘trying their luck’ and said it appeared to be a case of ‘build what you want now and ask for forgiveness later’.
They suggested they may have got into ‘competition’ with an even bigger home that was recently approved by the council and built on the road.
Planning agent Parry Virdee told MailOnline, however, the builder made a mistake and ‘misread the plans’.
One disgruntled neighbour said: ‘They had been granted planning permission but decided to build it three metres bigger out the back.
‘It blocks off all the light in our garden. The houses on the road were all meant to be in keeping with one another but that’s no longer the case.
A view of the house that has been served an enforcement notice on Marlow Road in High Wycombe
Picture shows the house which was issued with an enforcement notice and surrounding properties
Aerial photo shows the two new houses on Marlow Road in High Wycombe (property on the right has been served an enforcement notice)
‘It is just madness. They were clearly just trying their luck. They had planning permission and saw another one come out far.
‘It now just seems a case of build what you want and ask for forgiveness later. They saw the other one and got in competition with them.’
Documents on Buckinghamshire Council’s website show that permission was last year granted for a six-bed home with three parking spaces to be built on the site.
But subsequent plans for a similar sized home on the plot of land were refused by the local authority in March.
Now the owners have been told they must demolish the new property or comply with the conditions of the approved plans.
In an enforcement notice issued last month, Buckinghamshire Council said: ‘By reason of its size, depth, height and design, the rear two storey projection results in a significant loss of light to the adjacent residential properties.
‘[It] appears as an unneighbourly and overbearing structure when viewed from both adjacent properties, significantly diminishing the outlook and general amenity previously enjoyed by their existing residents.
The row centres on an extension at the back of the house on Marlow Road which comes out further than what was approved in the original plans. Image shows the backs of the houses
Sliding images shows the development of the house back in 2023 and 2021
‘The Council does not consider that planning permission should be given, because conditions could not overcome these objections to the development.’
However, some Marlow Road residents have questioned why the owner should be ordered to demolish their home, when an even bigger property was allowed to be built nearby.
Aerial photos show the difference in the size of the two new houses compared to the others already on the road.
One neighbour said, pointing at the property that was given planning permission: ‘That house is even bigger. It definitely looks higher than the other one.
‘How did they get planning permission- I do not know.
‘People always look at it as they go past but most neighbours do not know about it.
Local David Jones added: ‘We are far enough away for it not to bother us. We feel grateful for that.
‘However it is an eyesore. It has been like that for three or four years.
‘It is just enormous – I do not know who it is for.
Some Marlow Road residents have questioned why the owner should be ordered to demolish their home, when an even bigger property was allowed to be built nearby
Documents show permission was last year granted for a six-bed home with three parking spaces to be built. (On the left: the house which was issued with an enforcement notice, on the right: the house that was given planning permission)
‘The neighbours are saying the back of it has encroached on their light.’
The owners of the property that were issued with the enforcement notice have nine months to comply with it.
In the plans, which were rejected the applicant wrote: ‘It appears that the current house can be demolished and a new substantial dwelling be constructed for the current owner’s family, forming a 3-storey house with accommodation within the proposed roof space.
‘There is an excellent public transport network in the area connecting to High Wycombe town centre some 15 minutes bus ride away.
‘Development of this nature is in our opinion considered to be in line with Wycombe Council’s Policies.’
Locals on Marlow Road said development on the site began around two years ago.
A previous house with four large bedrooms and a sizeable living and dining room was demolished by the new owners.
