An appeal has been launched against a decision by planning bosses to tear down a garden building constructed without planning permission.

The building on Hawthorne Avenue, Farnworth, was built with the resident not realising  planning permission was needed.

A retrospective planning application for the building was submitted in December. 

The applicants outlined the benefits which would emerge from allowing it to stay in place.

The statement from Ronson Building Design Ltd said: "The building is constructed in Zinc, which is a high-quality architectural material, typically seen in well-designed Urban projects. This type of material would not usually be seen in areas of affordable housing, due to high material and skilled labour costs.”

They said the person who created  it was “an award-winning architectural metal worker and benefits from the ability to be able to utilise this type of high-quality construction method.”

They also said it had “no impact” on the neighbourhood and the nearest three neighbours all supported its retention.

However in March this year the council rejected this proposal.

A statement from planning officers said: “The outbuilding protrudes beyond the clear and consistent building line of both Hawthorne Avenue and North Avenue, betraying a lack of consideration for the streetscape character, particularly for a visually prominent corner plot.”

They said it breached council policy and had a “negative street outcome.”

They also said: “Cumulatively, the siting, footprint and height of the outbuilding ensures it is highly conspicuous in the locality.

“It represents a stark departure from the development pattern and development character. Other similar structures in the area, such as that at No. 47 Central Avenue, have been positioned with further setbacks from the highway, in less visually prominent location.”

However an appeal has now been launched against the decision made by Bolton Council.

Cllr John Walsh, the head of the planning committee, explained what happened if an application like this is refused.

He said: "They can appeal against refusal, if this is refused they must restore the  building to that which was previously.

"It shows the importance of being aware of planning rules.

"It is the caveat emptor, there was a classic example in Bolton with the homes on Grundy Fold Farm, it went through the court of appeal and half a million pound houses had to be demolished because they did not comply with that which had been granted."