Couple face bulldozing £600,000 dream mansion due to Scots planning laws
11.01.2023 - 15:19
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A couple could be forced to demolish their dream £600,000 mansion after falling foul of planning laws.
David and Dawn Allan built a huge villa in their hometown of Gorebridge, Midlothian. They applied for permission for the development in 2018 after flattening an existing building on the site.
They submitted plans to Midlothian Council and started construction work after being given a building warrant. But they claim to have been left stunned when they were refused retrospective planning and told the warrant had been issued in error.
Officials said a 'hipped' roof over the top of garages at the house are 'detrimental' to the local area and should be removed. The Allans, who run a successful coach company, pleaded for extra time to remedy issues with the new home.
But they were hit with an enforcement notice warning them to make changes or demolish the property by the summer. The Allans turned to the Scottish Government in a last bid to solve the problem but have been told missed deadlines mean nothing can be done.
Mrs Allan, 50, said they face bills of more than £100,000 to alter plans and had already spent £16,000 in fees in their current battle. In a letter to the government, Mrs Allan told how the fight had taken a toll on her health.
She said: "In 2019 I was issued with a building warrant and a letter to confirm I could proceed with the construction. My builders built the house according to this warrant plan with a few changes made along the way for which we submitted retrospective planning.
"It was discovered during this application that the building warrant was granted in error by Midlothian Council as the planning had not in fact been granted to accompany it. This was only discovered once the house was built in 2020."
She
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