A HOMEOWNER has been ordered to tear down the unauthorised extension on his Smithills house after neighbours made 22 complaints about it.

Planning permission was given for an extension at a house on Chorley Old Road in 2016, but when work started last year, local residents were concerned about what was being built.

Neighbours claimed that the side and rear extension was bigger than the approved plans, an unapproved dormer room and balcony had been built onto the property, and builders had used blue bricks, instead of red.

Deputy leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Martyn Cox, said: “This was a simple case of building work being carried out which we had not given permission for.

“The applicant had asked for permission to build one thing - but had gone on to build something very different. Neighbours were right to be concerned about what had been built.

“When council officers visited the property, we concluded the extension wasn’t in keeping with the character and appearance of the area.

“It was in breach of our planning policies and raised significant privacy concerns for those living next door.”

Planning officers from the council visited the house last summer, agreeing that the extension had breached the planning permission given.

In November, a notice was served on the property, with the authority ordering the work to be taken down within 90 days.

Then, on March 5, an application for retrospective permission for the new extension was submitted, sparking 22 letters of objection to the plans.

The application for a three storey extension to the side and rear, which would add two new bedrooms and a balcony, was submitted alongside a statement defending the construction.

In the document, the applicant claimed the main difference between the original plans was the use of grey-blue bricks, which they claimed blended more with the concrete and render of nearby properties.

Eight photographs were submitted to show the exteriors of neighbouring buildings did not have a strong colour theme.

An extract from the statement reads: "This property was in a very poor condition prior to the applicant purchasing it. The works bring back the property to its full potential.

"We do consider the scheme as constructed provides an appropriate and proportionate design providing large family accommodation in a cost effective and sustainable manner."

The back garden backs onto Doffcocker Lodge, and planning officers believed the features would be too "bulky and overly dominant" for the location, and could be seen over 300m away, from the other side of the Lodge.

Retrospective permission for the work was rejected by Bolton Council on April 30.