A é2m luxury apartment block will have to be bulldozed - because it has been built almost 5ft too high.

A Government inspector made the order as he rejected an appeal by developers Wainhomes North West over the Beacon View apartments in Standish, near Wigan.

Wainhomes had blamed a 'genuine' technical blunder for the error. The 14-flat block consists of one and two-bedroom apartments worth up to é170,000 each.

Government Inspector Derek Thew, who chaired a public inquiry last month, told the firm it must reduce the foundation slab on which the apartments sit to the original dimensions of the planning permission.

Pleaded

At the hearing, Wainhomes pleaded unsuccessfully to be allowed to re-style the roof to lower the building in Almond Brook Road. The firm will still be allowed to replace the block of flats, if they choose.

The mistake came to light after a sharp-eyed councillor, George Fairhurst, walked past and examined the new building.

Coun Fairhurst said: "I remember walking past and thinking 'there's something wrong here, that's just not right', because even to the naked eye it looked too high. Although the company can rebuild a new block, I'm sure the residents will be very pleased because it shows that their views do matter."

At the inquiry, David Manley, QC, for Wainhomes, accused council planners of 'mud slinging and apportioning blame.' He said "only a professional" would notice the difference between the plans and the finished building.

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