An estate agent has vowed to defy planning authorities to develop a property on the outskirts of Bolton.

Jerry Huppert previously applied to convert a former agricultural building on Ringley Road, Radcliffe, into a residential home last year.

However the estate agent at Cityview Estates in Prestwich saw his application refused.

But despite this scaffolding can now be seen outside the property and work is being done to transform it.

And Mr Huppert has vowed to carry on regardless of the rules.

He said: “I will be converting to a residential house.

“Planners cannot do much about it as it's permitted development and I’ll happily go to litigation and make an example out the planners trying to abuse their rights and powers.

“I can't wait to be served notice so I make an example out of them and create a precedent for future developers who are being bullied by local councils.”

Bolton Council said it was aware work was being done on the site but this had not yet broken the rules.

It also said it would monitor the situation.

A council spokesperson said: “The council are aware of activity on the site, we are regularly monitoring and can confirm some works have been carried out such as remedial drainage and construction of scaffolding, these works at present do not require planning permission.

“The land owner has been contacted and the position as to planning has been explained, the council will continue to monitor the site."

Simon Black, a nearby resident opposed to the plans, said people were “very upset” about the work being carried out in defiance of council plans.

He said: “We spoke to him and he said he didn’t care.

“We are very upset.

“What they are doing is taking and developing the green belt.

“If this continues the way it is going and the council do not do anything then there will be no green belt left.

“We moved to this area for the countryside.

“If this goes ahead we may as well live in the city centre.”

He said it was important rules were obeyed.

He added that developers should follow the rules and regulations to ensure it is not a "free for all".

“This matter is really upsetting the locals", he said.

When the application was rejected Bolton Council said “insufficient information has been submitted with regards to when the land and building was last used for agricultural purposes".