A Worcester mother has been ordered to demolish a £170,000 garden extension after a bitter dispute with neighbours and a council ruling that the structure is an unlawful 'eyesore'.
The Backyard Battle
Clair Birch, 58, stated she initially sought planning permission to replace an existing garage with a single-bedroom annexe for her disabled daughter. However, neighbours were shocked when a substantial two-storey structure, described as resembling a standalone bungalow, was constructed in her back garden.
The project quickly escalated into a major neighbourhood conflict, with residents complaining that the building was overbearing, encroached on their land, and severely violated their privacy.
A Devastating Council Ruling
The situation reached a climax when Worcester City Council rejected a retrospective planning application for the build on November 5. Council officials concluded that the extension's scale and design lacked visual cohesion with the surrounding area.
Critically, the council determined the building fails to demonstrate a clear functional or physical dependency on the main dwelling, effectively classifying it as a self-contained property rather than an annexe. This ruling mandates the complete demolition of the £170,000 construction.
Claims, Counter-Claims and a 'Royal Mess Up'
Clair Birch defended her actions, blaming her planner for a significant error. My planner royally messed up, she claimed. On one application he put it as an Airbnb, then he has done this.
She insisted the building was always intended for her daughter and is connected to the main house's utilities, questioning how it could be considered a separate dwelling. She also lamented losing £70,000 due to problematic building work and accused snotty neighbours of making her life hell.
Conversely, anonymous neighbours provided a different account. One stated, I'm not sure how on Earth they thought they could get away with throwing up that eyesore. They highlighted that the structure had separate water and power lines, suggesting its use as an independent dwelling, and pointed to its listing as a potential Airbnb on the initial online application.
Another neighbour detailed the impact, noting, They've cut the garden in half, they could effectively sell it as a separate property, and raised concerns about the complete loss of privacy for surrounding gardens.
The conflict serves as a stark warning about the critical importance of securing correct planning permission and the severe financial and personal consequences when disputes with neighbours escalate to the council level.
