Property owners say they were unaware garden decking needed planning permission as they launch a fresh appeal to keep it.

David and Elaine Grimshaw put in a retrospective application to keep the decking after being made aware of the breach at the property in Torra Barn Close in Egerton.

The pair applied to keep the raised decking which been created in the back garden where a wooden shed had been removed.

The couple stressed that they did not know permission was required.

In a planning document a statement for the pair said: “We reiterate that these works were carried out and commissioned unaware that a breach of planning rules would ensue.”

But the application for retrospective permission was rejected by Bolton Council.

Planning officers said it would “impact detrimentally on the privacy and amenity” of the homes of three neighbouring properties.

They said there were two properties at the back and were significantly lower than the home in question.

It said: “It is considered that the raised decking would adversely impact these neighbours by overlooking the outdoor amenity space of these neighbours.”

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Two letters of objection were also raised in respect of this.

One stated the application would cause “detrimental harm to living conditions and invasion of privacy.”

It added: “The raised decking means the users of the decking could see directly into my kitchen, my bedroom and my garden.”

The council’s planning department rejected plans in October last year.

An earlier appeal against the council’s decision to reject the plans was dismissed as invalid because no enforcement notice has been served.

But now a fresh appeal has been made by the couple attempting to gain retrospective permission to keep the decking in place once more.

A fast track appeal has now been launched which will be determined by the planning inspectorate.