A MAN has been ordered to pay out more than £800 following a two-year battle over a garage built without planning permission.

Trevor Stephenson, of Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, now faces the prospect of Durham County Council knocking down the structure and handing him the bill.

The 38-year-old was convicted last week for ignoring an enforcement notice ordering him to demolish the garage, boundary wall and raised terrace area at his home.

Mr Stephenson had pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Darlington magistrates, who heard how he built the garage without seeking approval from the council.

In September 2014 Stephenson applied to the authority for permission to retain the building work but was refused on the grounds that it was prominent, intrusive and harmful to the character and appearance of the area.

He appealed the decision with the Planning Inspectorate but his challenge was dismissed in June 2015.

In February of that year the council issued an enforcement notice ordering Stephenson to dismantle the garage, some brickwork, the wall and a fence, and to return the site to its previous state within eight weeks.

Despite an extension period to allow for the appeal to be concluded, Stephenson was charged with failing to comply with the notice.

On Monday (July 18) last week he was fined £180 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and £660 costs.

Stephenson, who has lived at the property for 14 years, told The Northern Echo he did not believe he needed planning permission as the garage stood at a certain height and was built within the border of his property.

However, he said the county council disputed who owned the grass verge between the pavement and where the garage now stands.

He added: “The whole thing has been long and complicated and they (the council) has have just taken a dislike to me.

“We have four kids in a two-bedroom house and we needed extra space.

“We can’t afford to take it down.”

The county council is now consider its options over the unauthorised development, with one being to carry out the work and recover its costs from Stephenson should he fail to do it himself.

Stuart Timmiss, the council’s head of planning, said: “He now has to pay £860 and runs the risk that the council will undertake the work and charge him for it, leaving him further out of pocket.

“I hope this case will act as a warning that we take all breaches of planning regulations seriously and that we will take action where appropriate.”