Builder Forced To Knock Down Dream Home

A builder has been forced to demolish his £600,000 new home after council planners ruled it was too high.

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

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

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

It is understood that the property was two feet (0.6 metres) too high.

Enforcement notices were served as the home was much bigger that the property which had planning permission.

It is believed that Mr Woodfinden-Lewis had applied for a two storey L-shaped three-bedroom style cottage, but the finished home had two reception rooms, four bedrooms and two en-suite bathrooms.


The council found that the home was "materially different" from the original approved plans.

An application to change the house type to include a two-storey rear extension, a higher roof and different porch was refused in April 2006.

The builder's appeal against the enforcement notice was dismissed in July last year and he was given 12 months to comply.

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".

Mr Baker added that they "ignored council advice which resulted in formal action being taken" and that "the waste of time and resources expended on this development is regrettable".

Mr Woodfinden-Lewis said there were discrepancies in the plans and that his attempts to comply with the enforcement order "hindered by council officials".

He also said that he would "not knowingly flout planning laws".

Mr Woodfinden-Lewis said what he has been through is "disgusting and morally wrong" and caused him to have a heart attack and led to the break-up of his 26-year marriage.

"This is not the end of it because I fully intend to reconstruct the property as per the planning permission. I'm determined to build the property that should be there. It is heartbreaking for me to watch it being demolished," he said.

The builder has had to pay demolition team to knock his house down.

It is understood that Mr Woodfinden-Lewis is now staying with well wishers.

(DS)