Council row erupts as mum-of-four faces homelessness after local authority demands she tear down £180k extension

A mother-of-four is confronting the devastating prospect of losing her home after the council instructed her to demolish a £180,000 extension built more than two years ago. Suzie Cavadino, who relocated from Bootle to her property on Sunnyside in Aughton, West Lancashire nearly two decades ago, has been given until the end of next month to tear down the two-storey structure. The 47-year-old invested the substantial sum to replace an existing conservatory with the extension, which now serves as the family's primary living space. Ms Cavadino resides at the property with her four children, whose ages range from 12 to 19. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say She claims local authority officers informed her the building is "out of keeping with the character of the surrounding area." The deadline for compliance is April 24, 2026. The extension was finished in December 2022 and houses essential facilities including the property's boiler, kitchen, and a bedroom that has been divided to accommodate two of her children. Ms Cavadino told the Liverpool Echo that the contractor she hired to remove the original conservatory and construct the replacement assured her planning approval would not be required. She said: "I received an email to say [the extension] needs to be demolished. I don't get it, this is our home, it's been up for over two years and I don't know why, after that long, it needs to come down." However, following completion of the project, the council notified her that consent was in fact necessary for the building work. The conservatory had been attached to the property for 17 years before being replaced, and aerial photographs from Google Maps suggest it was actually larger than the current extension. A protracted dispute between Ms Cavadino and the local authority has failed to reach any resolution. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS British beauty spot to be swamped by 3,500 new homes as locals rage at 'ludicrous' council plans Pensioners forced to tear down £4,500 fence after neighbours complained it was 'intrusive' of area’s character Travellers' mobile home is burned down overnight as vicious planning row spirals out of control In correspondence to local MP Ashley Dalton, the council's assistant director of planning and regulatory services Paul Charlson stated: "...the council has carefully considered the circumstances surrounding this case and has already provided Ms Cavadino with all the advice, flexibility and support that is available within the planning process." He added that the enforcement notice had been upheld by the Planning Inspectorate, which granted an extended compliance period until April 24, 2026. The window for challenging the inspector's ruling in the High Court closed on December 5, 2025, meaning the council is now legally obligated to enforce the decision. Ms Cavadino and her mother Margaret challenged the demolition order through the Planning Inspectorate, but their appeal was dismissed. In a ruling published on October 24, inspector KA Taylor concluded the development was "causing harm to the character and appearance of the host property and surrounding area." Ms Cavadino maintains the extension complements its surroundings, having been rendered to match the existing property, and argues it poses no issue to neighbouring homes since her garden backs onto open fields. "I had a meeting with the council and I explained the downstairs extensions where the conservatory was is the sole kitchen and where our boiler is. If that goes we will literally be homeless," she said. "It's absolutely devastating. I'm hoping to keep the bottom floor at least, but as it stands at the moment, they want the whole extension gone." She remains uncertain about the consequences of missing the April deadline, stating she cannot afford the demolition costs. A West Lancashire Council spokesman said: "We recognise the impact this situation has on Ms Cavadino and her family, and we have met with her to offer practical alternatives and support. "However, the independent Planning Inspector has upheld the requirements of our enforcement notice, and the Council must comply with that legally binding decision." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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