A DETACHED house in a Ribble Valley village may have to be modified - because it has been built back-to-front, it was revealed today.

Councillors heard the half-built house in Clitheroe Road, Whalley, was facing the wrong way.

Members of Ribble Valley Council's planning committee gave the structure the go-ahead in June. But they unanimously rejected a revised scheme after it was discovered the house was under construction contrary to the approved plans.

The meeting was told that the two-storey gable end of the house was now only three metres away from a neighbouring property. The approved plans indicated that a single-storey garage should have been built on the side of the neighbour's home.

After the meeting, a spokesman for Ribble Valley Council's planning department said the house would have to be modified.

He said: "The structure has been built out of line with planning permission and will have to be modified in some way, but there might be scope to work on only part of the building.

"We have a full enforcement procedure and, should it be necessary for the property to be completely re-built, the applicant would have the right to appeal, but we are hoping to negotiate an acceptable solution to everyone." Planning officer John Macholchad, said: "It was originally felt that a single-storey structure would not impact unduly on the neighbouring property, but unfortunately, works have commenced on the dwelling with the two-storey side of the house in its place.

"It is evident that the close proximity between the structures is undesirable, both in terms of potential light loss and concerns about privacy. It creates imbalance to the overall site and I strongly recommend that it be resisted."

After the meeting, applicant Martyn Schofield, of Schofield Construction, Wilpshire, said the situation had arisen for several reasons and the matter was being looked into.

He hoped negotiations between all parties concerned would result in the problem being satisfactorily resolved.

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