A retired joiner is refusing to tear down his £50,000 extension after the local council said the colour “harms” the area.
Andrew Jolly, 64, spent thousands building the structure after he and his wife Alison downsized and moved in to a bungalow in Wigan, Greater Manchester.
He wanted to start work as soon as he moved in due to the poor condition of the house and so opted to get planning permission retrospectively.
Jolly insists that planning officers and building inspectors gave him verbal assurances that he would get permission and so got to work. However, Wigan Council says no records of any assurances exist.
Now he faces a bill of over £20,000 to take down the upstairs extension, which houses the couple’s bedroom, en-suite bathroom, and the home’s heat pump system.
Jolly said: “It’s impossible to take it down. In fact, I’m not taking it down. They can fine me or do whatever they want, I’m not taking it down, I’ve not got the funds to take it down.”
The retiree decided to build the upstairs extension to create extra room and provide an en-suite bathroom for his wife, who was treated for bowel cancer five years ago and has to use an ileostomy bag. Work started in February 2024, but he was told he would need to submit a planning application after an officer turned up about two weeks later.
Jolly says he was told he shouldn’t stop building when he asked, and he submitted an application in May, before the extension was completed in July.
However, in late October, his retrospective planning application was refused and an enforcement notice issued, with his local council telling him the extension causes “harm to the overall design and appearance of the dwelling”. He was then issued an enforcement notice to tear down the structure he had spent months building.
Jolly has tried to appeal the decision and says that other houses on the street have similar upstairs extensions. But the government’s Planning Inspectorate’s findings have backed the council.
No record of assurances
A report written by an inspector at the Planning Inspectorate says the extension “dominates and unbalances the property” and “the use of mid-brown coloured cladding” is “at odds with the property itself”. The inspector adds that they find the extension has caused “significant harm to the character and appearance of the property and area”.
Wigan Council says it investigated the extension after receiving a complaint and is now trying to work on a compromise solution with Jolly.
A spokesperson said: “It is the responsibility of residents to ensure any developments of their property adhere to the relevant planning regulations. Although planning permission can be granted retrospectively in some cases, this cannot be guaranteed.
“Having undertaken a full review of our case files in relation to this matter, we can find no record of the assurances that Mr Jolly says were given.”
How to apply for planning permission
To apply for planning permission for your home, you should first check if it is actually needed.
Many small projects fall under permitted development rights, but larger extensions, new builds, or changes in conservation areas typically need approval.
Check with your local planning authority (LPA) via your local council’s website or the Planning Portal for guidance.
You will need to fill out and provide an application form, a location plan, site plan, existing and proposed elevations, and an ownership certificate.
You may also need a design and access statement or additional reports, depending on your project.
Fees vary but it costs £258, with added service charges, for typical applications like extensions.
Applications should be submitted via the Planning Portal, or by emailing them to your LPA.
The LPA will view the application and consult with neighbours before making a decision within eight weeks. If permission is refused, you can appeal via the Planning Inspectorate.
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