Ray Murphy built the four-bedroom house on Kepple Lane about three years ago, but faced the wrath of neighbours and Wyre Council as the finished home was slightly bigger than on the approved designs.
When he submitted retrospective plans for the changes, they were refused by Wyre planning committee – a decision later overturned on appeal and criticised as 'unreasonable' by a government inspector.
This week it has been revealed Mr Murphy – who claims he is out of pocket by thousands of pounds because of the drop in property prices during the wrangle – has received costs from Wyre Council.
A council spokesperson confirmed costs had been paid to Mr Murphy, who lives on Parkside Lane.
But she refused to say how much Mr Murphy had received "because we consider that information to be confidential", adding that the information was exempt under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Courier understands that the costs, which have been met by council tax payers, would be to cover Mr Murphy's legal and professional fees in the run-up to and duration of the appeal, a figure potentially running to several thousand pounds.
His planning agent and architect Mr John Rowe of Inskip was highly critical of the council's stance and the effect on the public purse.
Mr Rowe said: "Unfortunately there appear few real winners in this since the council has brought about this ill-grounded debacle at the taxpayer's expense.
"I pay business rates and council tax to Wyre Council so it frustrates me to see public money wasted in such a cavalier manner."
Council officials had recommended approval of Mr Murphy's plans but councillors went against their officers' advice and turned it down, prompting the appeal.
The planning inspector said councillors had 'misunderstood' the relatively minor changes to the plans and had partly based their rejection on prejudice against the plans because they were submitted retrospectively.
Mr Rowe added: "The planning officers at Wyre Council are highly professional and there was no sound reason for the elected members to ignore the sensible and proper advice of their officers.
''The committee has compromised its integrity and falling house values over the seven month wait for this appeal have cost my client tens of thousands of pounds."
When the property originally went on the market the asking price was £459,000.
The planning row over its size coincided with the credit crunch and the fall in the property market.
It was then taken off the market, but more recently was up for sale again with a guide price of £435,000.
The property, South View, has been advertised by Garstang-based Armitstead Barnett, who said this week it was "under offer proceeding to a sale."