Someone dropped a clanger.

Usual trip to Morrisons this morning.  Back home for late breakfast of oaty pancakes, yogurt and mixed fresh fruit.

Fell asleep on the sofa for a bit.  I'm still feeling rather weary and bunged up but thankfully I have no other cold symptoms.

I would have quite happily stayed indoors as the weather was cold but I needed a blip shot and I had something in mind which necessitated a walk of around 1 mile.

I wanted to get a " Derelict November " shot this week so I headed for this house.  I may have blipped it before as it has been in exactly the same state for many years. 

This is the story of the house.........There was little concern when a North businessman was given the go-ahead to build a new family home on empty land in the village where he has lived all his life.  Gateshead Council gave Shaun Lucas permission to build his home at Bank Top, Swalwell Bank, in 1998. But the foundations were not laid until 2003, and work above ground only began in 2005. It was then that residents in the bungalows nearby  realised the scale of the house was much bigger than they had thought. A number of them complained to the Council.  Planning bosses came out to check the property and agreed.

Councillors were persuaded to invoke rarely-used powers to order the top storey of the house to be removed. They had to get the permission of the then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to confirm the order and it could have gone to a public inquiry. The full cost of the alterations would need to be paid by the Council to the owner, along with compensation for the fall in land value and disturbance.

The authority was  in talks with Mr Lucas's agent  over the cost, and the firm estimated the bill at £600,000.

As one councillor said: "It's a bit of a mess. I think someone dropped a clanger."

Since 2005 nothing has changed.  The building has just been left in this unfinished state. There seems to be no information on the internet as to whats happening with it. It's such a shame - and its really quite an eyesore. Thanks to 60plus for hosting the Derelict  challenge.

Steps today - 10,487