AN eight bedroom house which was built without planning permission on Green Belt land is set to be knocked down.

The property on New Farm Drive in Abridge is used for a family run cattery and kennel business called Chalet Kennels.

A small, single storey house used to be on the site, and the owners were granted permission in 2004 to replace it with a larger building.

But the new two storey house which replaced the property was deemed to be considerably larger and of a significantly different design to the approved house.

A retrospective application was submitted to the district council, but planning officers have now recommended that enforcement action is taken and the house be knocked down to protect the Green Belt land.

Those living on Knights Walk, Abridge, just around the corner from the property had mixed opinions about the action.

Pat Jones, 72 said: "I don't think people should be able to do what they want. It rather got up my nose."

Roger Myson, 63 added: "Until now it hasn't bothered anybody and it's a shame to knock it down if they are doing good business. But obviously they have broken the law.

"I have my reservations that if nothing is done then other people will think they can build where they want."

Patricia Silverton said: "It used to be a very pretty village and it's really changed.

"I have lived here for 25 years and things have changed around here and it's not good."

But Susan Donovan, 60 said the owners should be left alone.

She added: "It's totally on it's own up there and I don't know why people want to complain. They have done such a beautiful job and it's a shame if it's knocked down."

A decision on the future of the house will be made at Epping Forest District Council's planning meeting on July 1.

The owners of the property declined to comment.