Families fear several homes are in danger of being demolished because they were built on higher land than was originally planned. Persimmon Homes in Cheadle, Staffordshire, were granted permission for 125 homes on land off Froghall Road. Since the ground level was raised 2.4 metres without proper planning permission, families fear their home may have “no value”.

Lawyers for the council said their homes could have “no value” given they were sold without the required planning clearance.

Persimmon, which has preliminary plans for an additional 135 dwellings on neighbouring land, has now requested a retrospective application to maintain the houses as they are, according to StokeonTrentLive.

A decision has been delayed by the planners so that residents can be consulted. Eight of the 125 properties are thought to be impacted.

Legal advisor Justin Price-Jones told a meeting of the planning committee: “It does surprise me somewhat that properties of some considerable value, no doubt, have been sold without planning permission because they’d have absolutely zero value on the market, to my mind at least.”

If council members choose to deny the application, he said there could be “very serious consequences” for people living in them.

He added: “Persimmon would have known when they sold it that they didn’t have planning permission. I imagine there’s a lot of people in this equation who don’t know how dire their situation is.”

However, if permission is refused and a compromise cannot be reached, residents may have their homes flattened, according to the chairman of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning committee.

Neighbours in the Ness Grove and Froghall Road areas have complained that some of the new homes are “overbearing” and “blocking sunlight,” with councillors comparing the change to “adding an extra storey”.

Resident Tracy Milward told the publication: “This development has been built in breach of the planning application submitted. They have built too high, and too close to the surrounding properties.

“Consequently ours, and many of our neighbours’ properties are now dwarfed and dominated by this unsightly development.”

She said that despite homeowners’ initial complaints to the council in October 2021, nothing was done to stop it. They have experienced “stress and anxiety” as a result, she added.

By submitting drawings that were never intended to comply with the laws and then adding modifications after the fact, Persimmon council appears to have twisted planning procedures to its own advantage, Ms Milward said.

We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

For the latest news and breaking news visit: /news

Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/DailyExpress and @Daily_Express