Ray Murphy built the detached house both bigger and taller than the agreed plans showed.
The building is deeper than it should be and the ridge height is higher. Instead of an interior chimney there is an exterior chimney breast, and the hoFuse now has five bedrooms instead of four.
When Mr Murphy submitted his revised plan with the new dimensions, Wyre's planning officials thought the changes were too small to make a fuss about - and were happy to recommend the new plans be approved.
But, following the intervention of Garstang Coun Lady Dulcie Atkins and a majority vote of Wyre planning committee members, the now completed but empty property has been REFUSED planning permission.
The council's next step is likely to be enforcement action - with the council telling Mr Murphy to demolish the house, called 'South View.'
Mr Murphy will have to comply with the order - or appeal against refusal.
At the planning meeting several councillors voiced concern at Mr Murphy's actions. They also disagreed with a council official's report which suggested the changes were relatively small and should be approved.
Mr Murphy attended the meeting with his agent Mr John Rowe, a chartered architect from Inskip. Several of the property's near neighbours also attended.
In the public section of the meeting Mr Rowe said the application had to be judged solely on its merits.
But Coun Ramesh Gandhi (who was halted in his line of questionning by planning chairman Coun Paul Moon), asked Mr Rowe: "What do y ou think we are doing here? You have completely ignored us."
South View's neighbour Mrs Liz Connolly, said: "This is an experienced builder who has presented the neighbours with a fait accompli by building exactly what he wanted."
She hit out at Mr Murphy' s "flouting" of the rules, and the official's recommendation to approve the house.
"What's the point in having a planning system if no-one bothers to follow the rules?" she said.
She added approving the house would be sending a message to builders telling them they could apply for what they liked but build what they wanted, without penalty.
In a letter Garstang Town Council said the house was "too high, too big and outside the original footprint."
In the debate which followed Coun Tom Balmain said the house had a "significant impact" which was detrimental to the character and appearance of the area.
Coun Ted Taylor said: "They got planning permission but have gone ahead and built whatever they wanted."
Coun Gandhi said: "What about the human rights of the people living in the next door properties?"
Coun Lady Atkins, who had asked for the issue to be decided at committee level rather than by planning officials, wondered why there was not more monitoring of homes being built - to ensure builders stuck to their designs.
She had been on a site visit with councillors and looked in detail at the property.
She added: "It all adds up to too big a building."
Planning official David Thow said any refusal would have to be followed up with enforcement action - a move which could involve demolition. It was pointed out that Mr Murphy could also appeal and, if successful, seek costs against the council.
A seven-page report from planning officials said the house was "not considerably different to that previously approved."
'South View' was on the market with Garstang-based Armitstead Barnett in mid-March with a price of £459,000. It was taken off the market in mid-April.
A council spokesman said Mr Murphy had six months to appeal against the decision.
Mr Murphy, of Parkside Lane, Garstang, did not respond to The Courier's request for a comment.