Order to demolish house is disputed

11:56am Saturday 17th May 2008

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DEVELOPERS are appealing against an order demanding they knock down a £1 million mansion.

Macclesfield Borough Council confirmed last week that Cylex Ltd was challenging a demolition order for Mere End Cottage, which was built without planning permission in Mereside Road.

Last week the Knutsford Guardian revealed that Cylex Ltd had been given four months to flatten the six-bedroomed house.

Developers must also knock down a double-garage and boat house, remove all foundations and re-seed the site with grass.

It is believed the home had been built for a businessman called Abdul Mohammed and his wife Musarat.

Agent Mico Design told Macclesifled Borough Council that the scale of the development was necessary because of Musarat's severe asthma, which meant air conditioning had to be installed.

Planners had given permission for a smaller development in 2002.

Macclesfield Borough Council, which was unavailable for comment last week, has since explained why it issued the order. "In terms of floorspace this building is nearly three times bigger than the property it replaced and whilst some increase in size might be justifiable, we don't feel this is," said a spokesman. "It is unfortunate that the owner didn't seek our permission before changing his plans in this way. Perhaps then we could have avoided this action."