The man behind a home extension that has attracted ridicule in Swadlincote says criticism of its build quality has been "unfair".

A home in Coppice Side has been heavily criticised due to the nature of a two-storey extension built to the rear of the property.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the homeowner, who did not want to be named, said those criticising his house extension should wait until they see the finished design.

South Derbyshire District Council said it was now investigating the property after concerns were raised by members of the public.

A planning application for the extension has not been lodged and the owner has not applied for permission.

The homeowner said the extension was allowed under permitted development rights. These are the same rights which allow you to put up a shed of a certain height in your garden.

He told the LDRS: "It is allowed under permitted development but I have stopped work for now until I hear back from the council. I have just stopped working and it just depends on the planning now."

Work on the extension started in June this year, he said.

"I think it is unfair for people to comment on it before it is finished. If they have a look at the architectural designs they'll see for themselves," he said.

The homeowner, who has lived at the property for two years after moving from Birmingham, said the designs had now been sent to the district council.

Those designs will only be made public if a planning application is required, which it would not if permitted development rights are upheld.

The homeowner said: "It is unfair to judge until it is complete and I have tried not to look at the comments about it, but I have been told about them.

"The other side of it is that out of the people making comments a lot of the people probably live in council houses."

Last week, Cllr Mick Mulgrew, one of the area's ward councillors, said the extension was "very dangerous", "looks like a bad DIY job" and was "every bit as bad as everyone says it is".

A district council spokesperson had said: "The council has received concerns about this structure and the council's planning enforcement team is investigating if planning permission is needed or whether the works benefit from legal rights afforded to developers."

Comments on social media have compared the second floor extension to a lookout post; a pigeon coop; a base to shoot clay pigeons from; dubbed it the "eighth wonder of the world"; a "swanky roof bar"; a gun turret; a bird watching hide; and a prison guard tower.

The first floor extension appears to have been built out of breeze blocks, with a small double-glazed window which seems to have gaps around the hole created for the window.

Brickwork beneath the first floor extension appears to be loose and a number of different building block types have been used to build the extra level to the rear of the home.

The second floor of the building also appears to contain a double-glazed window which has been wedged between two wooden panels.

A new double-glazed window has also been created at the front of the house but also appears to have gaps around the entire outline of the hole created to fit the window.