British man forced to tear down new home

MANCHESTER, England, July 9 (UPI) -- A British man says he was forced to tear down his $1.2 million dream home after Manchester officials insisted it failed to meet regulations and was too tall.

Steve Woodfinden-Lewis, 49, battled for two years with Manchester city planners about the new home in the leafy suburb of Woodford, but ultimately they ruled the home was two feet too tall and ordered its destruction, The Daily Mail reported Wednesday.

Woodfinden-Lewis told the newspaper the ordeal has cost him $60,000 in legal bills and ruined both his health and his marriage. To add insult to injury, he also has to pay for the demolition.

City planners said Woodfinden-Lewis was given plenty of opportunities to avoid the outcome. They rejected his application for a higher roof in 2006 and claim the house he built didn't resemble what had been approved, the newspaper said.

"Mr. and Mrs. Woodfinden-Lewis chose to ignore the approved plans and built a house which was completely inappropriate in this location, then ignored council advice, which resulted in formal action being taken," Planning chairman Councilor Chris Baker said.