Mother and Four Children Face Homelessness Over Council Demolition Order
A Lancashire mother has declared that she and her family are at imminent risk of homelessness after her local council ordered the demolition of her £180,000 house extension. Suzie Cavadino, who has resided in her Aughton home for nearly two decades with her four children aged between 12 and 19, invested almost £200,000 to replace an old conservatory with a two-storey extension.
Extension Houses Essential Family Spaces
The substantial extension, completed in December 2022, contains the household's sole kitchen, boiler, and an additional bedroom that is partitioned to accommodate two of Suzie's children. According to reports from the Liverpool Echo, Suzie alleges that her builder assured her planning approval was unnecessary for the project, a claim that West Lancashire Council firmly disputes.
The council has mandated that the structure be taken down by the end of next month, stating that the new building is 'out of keeping with the character of the surrounding area'. This decision has sparked a protracted series of exchanges between Suzie and the local authority, with no indication of a reversal.
Planning Inspectorate Upholds Enforcement Notice
In a letter to local MP Ashley Dalton, Paul Charlson, the assistant director of planning and regulatory services for West Lancashire Council, explained the council's position. 'The council has carefully considered the circumstances surrounding this case and has already provided Ms Cavadino with all the advice, flexibility and support that is available within the planning process,' he wrote.
The enforcement notice was upheld by the independent Planning Inspectorate, which extended the compliance deadline to 24 April 2026. Charlson added, 'As the statutory period for challenging the Inspector's decision in the High Court expired on 5 December 2025, the council is now legally required to ensure compliance.'
Family's Desperate Plea Against Demolition
Suzie now fears that if the council proceeds with demolition, her family will be rendered homeless. 'I received an email to say [the extension] needs to be demolished. I don't get it, this is our home, it's been up for over two years and I don't know why, after that long, it needs to come down,' she expressed.
She detailed the critical functions of the extension: 'I explained the downstairs extensions where the conservatory was is the sole kitchen and where our boiler is. If that goes we will literally be homeless. Upstairs we made an extra bedroom which is partitioned into two for two of my children. If we get rid of that the house is going to be overcrowded.'
A spokesperson for West Lancashire Council acknowledged the situation, stating, 'We recognise the impact this situation has on Ms Cavadino and her family, and we have met with her to offer practical alternatives and support. However, the independent Planning Inspector has upheld the requirements of our enforcement notice, and the Council must comply with that legally binding decision.'
Appeal Rejected by Planning Inspector
Suzie and her mother, Margaret, appealed the demolition order to the Planning Inspectorate, but it was rejected. In a decision published on October 24, inspector KA Taylor wrote, 'I have found the development to be causing harm to the character and appearance of the host property and surrounding area. The alternatives advanced by the appellant have not been demonstrated to constitute part of the matters stated in the notice and do not alter my findings.'
Suzie contends that the extension is consistent with the area, as it is rendered to match the existing property and does not affect neighbouring homes due to her property backing onto fields. She noted that aerial photos from Google Maps show the previous conservatory was larger and attached to the house for 17 years.
Uncertain Future and Financial Strain
With the compliance deadline of April 24, 2026 approaching, Suzie is uncertain of the consequences and claims she cannot afford the demolition costs. 'It's absolutely devastating. I'm hoping to keep the bottom floor at least, but as it stands at the moment, they want the whole extension gone,' she said.
She concluded with a stark warning: 'We will literally be homeless if they demolish it, we won't be able to live here and we will have nowhere to live.' The case highlights the severe personal impacts of planning enforcement decisions on families, raising questions about housing security and regulatory flexibility in such circumstances.
