York "shanty town" landlord George Douglas's fight against orders to pull down his Heworth property received a fresh blow today.

Mr Douglas built three flats under plastic roofing in the garden of a listed house in Heworth Green.

But he was told to demolish it after shocked councillors viewed the huge ramshackle structure, and decided to condemn it.

The flats had received no planning permission.

The landlord made a last-ditch effort to save the flats, which still have people living in them, by applying for planning permission for one of them.

But City of York council officers have recommended members of the planning and transport sub-committee refuse his application when they meet on Tuesday.

The council has received objections from neighbours complaining that the structure looks untidy, particularly as it backs on to a listed building.

Objectors also claim traffic from the people who live in the flats makes parking areas congested.

If councillors agree with officers and refuse the application, Mr Douglas would be able to appeal to a government planning inspector.

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