A GOVERNMENT inspector is considering the fate of two homes built in “flagrant breach of regulations” which are at the centre of a four-year planning row.

Angry villagers and planning officials say the properties in Thornton Rust, in the Yorkshire Dales, are too big and should be partially demolished and rebuilt.

The Yorkshire National Park Authority (YDNPA) served the owner, Peter Bowers, with an enforcement notice to carry out the work.

However, he appealed to the planning inspectorate.

The two sides yesterday put their cases to planning inspector David Pinner at the YDNPA offices in Bainbridge.

Planning officials found 23 planning breaches – 11 of which were serious – when the houses were completed in 2007.

Richard Graham, YDNPA head of development management, said: “It’s the height, it’s the volume, it’s the mass, it’s the appearance of the buildings.”

Officials are particularly concerned that the homes were built higher than the plans specified and the pitch of the roofs was steeper to allow an additional storey.

The enforcement notice demanded a number of alterations, including landscaping and painting of windows, which have now been carried out.

However, the owner has refused to remove the roof, take off six layers of stonework and alter the pitch of the roofs.

Ronald Logan, a chartered surveyor representing the owner, said they accepted the homes were taller from floor to eaves than the plans.

But he added that no note of the original ground level had been made.

He claimed this meant it was impossible to say if the homes were actually higher than those approved.

Aysgarth and District Parish Council has backed the authority’s attempts to reduce the size of the homes.

Outside the hearing, Brian McGregor, parish council chairman, said there was considerable ill-feeling towards the owner of the property, adding: “He has walked into the village, built what he wanted and thought he could get away with it.”

However, parish councillor David Wood spoke in support of the owner saying it made no economic sense to remove the roofs.

The planning inspector is expected to make a decision within five weeks.