TELEVISION crews filmed the ending of a long-running saga for the building of a new house in Lostock.

Programme makers from Channel 4’s Damned Designs were in the town hall council chamber today to see Dr Mohammed Sidda’s plans for a replacement house type at Regent Road approved.

A long-running battle over the house started around four years ago, when Dr Sidda received permission to demolish a bungalow and build a four-bedroom house.

After building a house bigger than approved, he had two retrospective planning applications knocked back, before being ordered to demolish the property in April 2013 — but was given permission for a five-bedroom house by Bolton Council.

The latest application discussed on Thursday was for amendments to the scheme approved in 2013, to change part of the design and appearance.

In the town hall today, Lostock residents blasted the authority for allowing Dr Sidda for not properly monitoring building on the site in the first place, and saving neighbours years of anguish.

Margaret Collier, from the Lostock Residents Association, said the group was always in support of a good development on the site, but there needed to be better inspections on site in the future to make sure buildings were built as planned.

She added: “It’s a disappointment that the council have managed to spend so much money, council tax payers money, on this which could have been avoided over the past four years.

“We hope that this will put procedures in place to prevent expenditure and such problems for neighbours .”

Speaking to approve the application, Cllr Nick Peel said the scheme was the same size as the one that was first approved, back in 2011.

He said: “The local residents have had to put up with a lot of grief, living by a practical building site over the past few years.

“I would urge the applicant to get on with it, to get it done and give his neighbours a bit of peace.”

Dr Sidda told The Bolton News: “I am happy the application has been approved.”