COUNCIL bosses who accidentally approved a controversial development have abandoned their fight to stop it, after hearing they could be landed with a £250,000 compensation bill.

Selby District Council had intended to withdraw the permission it granted in December to local homeowner Martyn Fryer, but has now decided not to do so.

The move comes after Mr Fryer’s legal representatives told a council meeting he would seek £250,000 if the permission was revoked.

Mr Fryer will now be allowed to build the house, but with certain conditions agreed.

As revealed by The Press in December, the council accidentally granted permission to Mr Fryer to build a two-storey house with a garage and studio in Coldhill Lane, Saxton.

A “clerical error” meant the word “refused” in his decision letter was replaced by the word “granted”.

In a report to the council’s planning committee last Wednesday, council officer Claire Richards said it was initially considered “expedient” to fully revoke the planning permission.

But she said that, following further representations from a solicitor on behalf of Mr Fryer, and a review of case law on revocation, “the most expedient way forward is to seek a modification order”.

She said: “Having considered the compensation that would be likely to be payable it is not considered expedient to revoke the permission.”

The planning committee decided to keep the planning permission, with modifications which it said would ensure the development would not harm the local area.

Coun Steve Shaw-Wright said: “This could have a real devastating effect upon other speculative greenbelt application for Selby and maybe other planning authorities.

“I think we’ve always got that brick wall between what you can’t or can do, but if there are conditions which mean it can be built in the green belt then it’s quite possible for people to argue that they meet the conditions.”

The modifications in Mr Fryer’s case include assurances that stables on the site will not be used for commercial activities, and that all materials used on the exterior and roof of the dwelling and the appearances to the buildings and access points must be approved by the local planning authority.