New 'unapproved' home demolished

Mr Woodfinden-Lewis plans to rebuild his home

Demolition work has begun on a £600,000 new home after council planners ruled it was two-feet (0.6m) too high.

Builder Stephen Woodfinden-Lewis has been in a four-year legal battle with Stockport Council in Greater Manchester over his home in Woodford.

It is being knocked down a year after the council ordered that the builder make alterations or pull it down.

Mr Woodfinden-Lewis said that his legal battle has cost him £30,000 and that he planned to rebuild the home.

Enforcement notices were served because the house was much bigger than the property which had planning permission.

Mr Woodfinden-Lewis applied for a two bedroom cottage, but the finished home had two reception rooms, four bedrooms and two en-suite bathrooms, overlooking 40 acres of greenbelt land.

It was also two feet too high and "materially different" from the original approved plans, the council found.

The waste of time and resources expended on this development is regrettable Councillor Chris Baker

Mr Woodfinden-Lewis appealed against the enforcement notice but it was dismissed in July last year and he was given 12 months to comply.

He has brought in his own demolition team to remove the roof and windows before the house is taken down brick by brick.

Mr Woodfinden-Lewis, a registered house builder for more than 25 years, has said he would not knowingly flout planning laws.

He claims he has spent £30,000 trying to prove his case and now plans to rebuild the home in accordance with the planning permission.

Councillor Chris Baker, chairman of the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee, said: "Mr and Mrs Woodfinden-Lewis chose to ignore the approved plans and built a house which was completely inappropriate in this location.

"They then ignored council advice which resulted in formal action being taken. The waste of time and resources expended on this development is regrettable."