A DEVELOPER who constructed a large house without planning permission has been given a second chance to put things right.

Stephen Kramer said he would erect a small coach house next to a historic Grade II property, in Lindsey Street, Epping, but instead put up a much larger building in a different design.

The district council has now granted him permission to reduce his property to an acceptable size.

Neighbour Mary Milgate, 38, who attended the planning meeting, said: “When the original plans were shown to the committee several of them burst out laughing. It had changed from a two-bedroom house to something like a four-bedroom house.

“One of the people on the committee raised why it was granted permission in the first place. It had never been to committee before it had just been passed by officers.

“I think the feeling was if it had gone to committee it might not have passed. It's not the biggest of sites. But I'm pleased it's gone back to the original plans. If something has to be there something smaller and not so intrusive would be much better.

“They've flouted the planning laws before, and there's conditions attached to this so I hope they're on course to keep things in check and take it down to the required size. It's frustrating because they should have stuck to the plans in the first place, but it'll be costly for him to take it down.”

Councillors agreed Mr Kramer should be given the chance to the reduce the house.

Epping district councillor Jon Whitehouse said: “The planning permission was put back to more like the original rather than this enormous building. It was foolish to build it. I don't know if it was down to the building contractors, the architects or whatever. They've got the opportunity now to build a building in accord with the previous plans.”

Mr Kramer's agent Graham Knowles said: “I wasn't at the meeting but I gather it sailed through. I'll give it a week before I start changing the plan. It will basically involve cutting off the roof and starting again. They've made a right pig's ear of it.

"I don't know when work will start but he's got to get on with it because it's costing him money.”

Plans to demolish a home in a rural village and replace it with a larger building have been refused.

Developers had asked for permission to demolish The Old Rectory, in Mount Road, Theydon Mount, and replace it with a larger detached home, but councillors turned that idea down over concerns the new building would be too large for the site.