A Worcester homeowner is confronting a devastating financial loss and the potential demolition of a two-storey property she constructed in her back garden after failing to secure the necessary planning consent.
Clair Birch, 58, invested £170,000 in building what she describes as an annexe for her disabled daughter, aiming to provide her with a degree of independence. However, the local authority and her neighbours view the structure as an entirely separate and inappropriate dwelling.
From Annexe to 'Eyesore': The Neighbourhood Dispute
While Ms Birch initially received approval to replace an existing garage with a one-bedroom annexe, the resulting construction left neighbours shocked. They describe it as a stand-alone 'eyesore' and an 'extended bungalow' that dramatically alters the character of the area.
One anonymous resident stated, 'We simply call it 'the big house' - they knocked it up in no time.' Another complained that the building is 'massive' and breaches their privacy, as it overlooks neighbouring gardens. A further point of contention is the allegation that the structure extends onto a neighbour's land, with claims of damage and unauthorised drainage work.
Adding fuel to the fire, a neighbour claimed the planning application at one point referred to the building as an Airbnb, suggesting an intention for commercial use rather than a family annexe.
Council Intervention and a Mother's Defence
On November 5, Worcester City Council formally refused retrospective planning permission for the build. The council's decision cited the building's excessive size and scale, stating it lacked 'visual cohesion' with the surrounding properties.
Crucially, 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 house rather than a dependent annexe.
In her defence, Ms Birch places the blame on a property firm she hired to handle the planning application, claiming they left her 'without a paddle' and submitted incorrect documents. She insists the building was constructed in 'good faith' to meet her daughter's specific needs, including a second floor due to her daughter's phobia of sleeping on the ground floor.
'My planner royally messed up,' Ms Birch said. 'On one application he put it as an Airbnb, then he has done this. I was born in this house, do you really think I'd want to ruin this?'
An Uncertain and Costly Future
The situation has reached a critical impasse. Ms Birch now faces the prospect of having to tear down the £170,000 building if a resolution with the council cannot be found. She laments that the annexe, built for her daughter's independence, now stands unusable.
The council noted in its refusal that it had acted 'positively and proactively' and had clearly set out its reasons, offering the applicant a chance to remedy the issues. Worcester City Council has declined to comment further on the matter.
With significant funds already spent and relations with neighbours severely strained, the path forward for Ms Birch remains deeply uncertain, highlighting the severe risks of undertaking major construction without full and correct planning permission.
