A couple may have to bulldoze their £600,000 mansion due to a planning laws 'error'.
David and Dawn Allan could be forced to demolish their dream villa in Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland, after falling foul of planning laws.
The stress of fighting to save her home has affected Ms Allan's "physical and mental health" for which she says she is now on medication.
The couple applied for permission for the development in 2018 after flattening an existing building on the site.
They submitted plans to Midlothian Council and started construction work after being given a building warrant.
But they claim to have been left stunned when they were refused retrospective planning and told the warrant had been issued in error.
Officials went on to say that the 'hipped' roof over the top of garages is 'detrimental' to the local area and should be removed.
The Allans, who run a successful coach company, have pleaded for extra time to remedy issues with the new home, but were instead hit with an enforcement notice.
It warned them that they had to make the changes to the house, or demolish the property by the summer.
In a last bid hope to solve the problem, the pair turned to the Scottish Government.
But they were told that they missed the deadlines, and nothing can be done.
Mrs Allansaid they face bills of more than £100,000 to alter plans, despite already having spent £16,000 in fees in their current battle.
In a letter to the government, Mrs Allan explained how the fight to save the dream home had taken a toll on her health.
She said: "In 2019 I was issued with a building warrant and a letter to confirm I could proceed with the construction.
"My builders built the house according to this warrant plan with a few changes made along the way for which we submitted retrospective planning.
"It was discovered during this application that the building warrant was granted in error by Midlothian Council as the planning had not in fact been granted to accompany it.
"This was only discovered once the house was built in 2020."
She added: "The error of issuing us with a building warrant in the first instance and the subsequent work involved with new plans, structure, demolition and rebuilding required is going to cost us over £100,000 that we did not budget for and may well result in us finishing the house and having to sell it if this can't be resolved.
"I am also at the mercy of builders and engineers being so busy for months ahead and the trouble of obtaining building materials.
"The stress has affected my physical and mental health for which I am now on medication for, so the additional stress is just awful.
"I have been actively trying to resolve the matter all this year and have spent over £16,000 extra fees on architect and planning and building warrant fees so far."
A Midlothian Council spokesman said: "We served an enforcement notice on November 18 because the building doesn't comply with the approved plans.
"We formally raised the issue of the unauthorised work with the owner's planning agent back in February and gave the owner time to voluntarily make the required changes.
"The owner has the option of either making those changes by April 20 or demolishing the building by June 20."
Turning down the appeal bid, government reporter Emma Brown said: "The appeal has now been checked and I must inform you that it is out of time."
