A WORTHING nursing home which built an extension without securing planning permission has been told most of the new building has to be torn down.
A conservatory extension to the Ashdown Nursing Home in Shakespeare Road costing between £70,000 and £80,000 was discovered when a council officer visited on another planning matter.
A retrospective planning application was refused and an appeal by the home was dismissed in April this year.
The planning inspector said the extension was out of keeping with the architectural and historic character of the local interest building and the conservation area.
Sham Beeharee, a director of the nursing home, said: "Unfortunately, the architect we employed for the conservatory was under the impression it did not need planning permission.
"However, he did not tell us that and the building work went ahead."
"It is a shame because it was meant to be a nice sitting area for our residents and now we have to go through the process again.
The owners of the home, which cares for people with mental health problems, has come up with a replacement conservatory, for which planning permission has been granted.
Chairman of development control committee, John Livermore said: "We will not tolerate the flouting of planning and building regulations by anyone."
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