A FAMILY ordered to tear down a one-storey extension on an annexe to their home are hoping for a reprieve.

Susan Muhsen has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate asking officers to overturn a decision by Hyndburn Council’s planning committee to refuse retrospective permission for the single storey extension at Allsprings Close in Great Harwood.

And she has asked inspectors to consider awarding costs against the council.

Mrs Muhsen says the council has not provided evidence to justify refusing the application and that the committee went against advice provided by planning officers in denying permission.The application site was subject to a successful planning application in 2010 for a single storey annex for the Mrs Muhsen's mother

The permitted annexe had 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a dining area and a living area and was completed.

But last year, enforcement action commenced due to the fact that the applicant had built a second storey onto the annexe.

Planning committee members heard in December that the extension made the annexe overbearing and that it was essentially like another house.

A council spokesman said: "The council's planning policies contain a presumption against the development of houses in gardens and given the proximity of the two-storey house to the existing house, it is not unreasonable for planning committee members to express concern about the impact of the development.

"The building has now been significantly increased in size and the justification for the annexe is no longer present owing to the passing away of the occupant for which it was originally intended.

"In 2010, planning permission was granted for the development of a single storey annexe in the garden of Spring View on the grounds that the annexe was required to be used by the elderly mother of the owner.

"The second bedroom was required to acommodate the owner should her mother require closer care.

"Condition four of this permission required that the annexe should not be used as a separate unit of accommodation."

"The appellant has developed a two-storey detached dwelling in the garden of their property that is now occupied by their independent son and his family who have no specific care requirements.

"The dwelling is being used as a separate unit of accommodation, albeit in very close proximity to the occupiers' relatives."