Residents near Bath are calling for a large partly built house to be demolished, alleging it was constructed beyond its approved planning permission. The dispute matters because opponents say it exposes weaknesses in planning enforcement, particularly when substantial unauthorised changes are made before authorities act.

The proposed seven-bedroom home is estimated by a neighbour to be worth about £3 million and is described as potentially Bath’s largest new-build house in a century. An enforcement survey reportedly found it was higher, larger and in a different position from the approved design; more than 100 people have objected to a retrospective application seeking approval for the changes. The developer says efforts were made to limit the building’s height, while Bath and North East Somerset Council says enforcement will be considered after the application is decided.