Sorry, you’re going to have to send in the bulldozers

The five-bedroom property in Bishopbriggs – located between Heatherbrae and Brackenbrae Avenue – breaches original plans approved by the council.

The house is larger than the plans agreed – more than two metres higher, nearly three metres longer and 1.2 metres wider.

It also has unauthorised additional windows, as well as a 4.5-metre balcony.

Earlier this year, East Dunbartonshire Council’s planning board refused a retrospective application.

Neighbouring residents raised concerns and lodged objections – claiming the house intrudes on their privacy, obstructs light and is out of keeping with the area.

They also feared that giving retrospective permission would set a precedent for future decisions.

The council has initiated formal enforcement action – demanding that the house be demolished.

An appeal against that action has been dismissed by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals.

The owner did not contest the grounds for the enforcement action, but stressed the “financial burden” he now faces.

A recent meeting of the planning board was told the appeal reporter accepted that – and noted that a claim for damages is being made – but had to dismiss the appeal.

The reporter stressed: “From my inspection of the site and the surrounding area I have no doubt in my mind that there is a significant adverse effect on the visual and residential amenity of the area.”

As a result the owner has 12 months to demolish the building and remove the rubble. He will have to restore the land within 15 months.

In his defence, the owner claimed that much of the work was carried out by the builder without his knowledge or authorisation.

Thomas Glen, head of planning at the coucnil, confirmed: “An appeal was lodged by the applicant against the decision of the council to refuse retrospective planning permission.

“The appeal has been considered by the Scottish Government’s Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals with the government reporter upholding the council’s decision and rejecting the applicant’s appeal.”

He added: “The applicant has a year to comply with the reporter’s decision and remove or reconfigure the property to bring it in line with the consented planning approval.”

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