A Shropshire couple may not have to bulldoze their dream home in the county’s World Heritage area despite losing a planning appeal.

The building site of the Davids' new house in Coalport

John and Maureen David took Telford & Wrekin Council to an appeal in April after the authority refused retrospective planning permission for their home in High Street, Coalport, which is partially-built. Government planning inspector Paul Griffiths dismissed the appeal saying the home would look “alien”.

Mr David thought he might have to pull the home down straight away, but the council has said it was now in discussions with him to come to a resolution which could see the home modified, rather than flattened.

One option open to Mr David is to remodel his home in line with permission which was granted for a smaller house in 2003.

But residents have complained that while the discussions are taking months to complete, they are looking at a “dirty building site”.

Councillor Adrian Lawrence, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for the environment, said the authority still reserved the right to prosecute and insist the house was taken down if talks break down.

He said: “Telford & Wrekin Council is currently in discussions with the applicant’s solicitors as to how the property can be reconstructed in line with the original planning consent. Part of these discussions include whether the development can be rebuilt in accordance with the original permission without demolishing the building.

“We have indicated that if an agreement cannot be reached on a way forward then the council will consider prosecuting the applicant for failing to comply with the enforcement notice.”

Ian Anderson, who lives beside the building site, said: “I have contacted the council and heard nothing about what is going on.

“He was told to take the house down and if he is in discussions with the council, that will mean we will have to look at a dirty building site for even longer.”

Mr David was unavailable for comment.

By Jason Lavan