A MAN paralysed while working as a Harry Potter stunt double is pleading with Southend Council to work with him to realise his dream of a home where he can be comfortable.

David Holmes, 27, is wheelchair-bound as a result of spinal injuries he suffered two years ago on a film set.

Earlier this week, the council turned down his application to build a specially-adapted home in Eastwood Road, Leigh.

Mr Holmes has since told the Echo he plans to appeal against the decision and also submit revised proposals for the site.

He has also pleaded with councillors and planners to tell him exactly what he needs to do to get his house built.

He explained: “We had a meeting with the council planning officer and I showed him two different sets of drawings, each of which cost £1,500.

“I asked him which one he thought would pass. He picked the one I submitted. I asked the council’s advice and it still has not allowed it.

“The council’s response was that I should scale it down, but do I need to do that by a metre each side, or two? I just want some meaningful feedback.”

After councillors turned down his application, Mr Holmes asked several of them for more information as to what he needed to do to make his plans acceptable to them.

He said: “I asked four or five councillors for 30 seconds of their time to give me help and none of them wanted to know.

“I don’t want to upset people, I just need a house. I was asking for help to resolve the situation, so I’m not stuck living in one room for the next three months, but not one of them could give me the time of day.”

He wants to demolish a two-storey property on the site and build a larger two-storey home with a basement parking level. He does not own the site at present, but would buy it if he was given planning permission.

Mr Holmes added: “I can’t work any more. I have one chance to build a house for the rest of my life and it has to suit all my needs.

“I just want a resolution.”

Mr Holmes requires 24-hour care and wants to stay in the town where he has lived for nine years, because he feels it offers him a good quality of life.

He explained: “There is good parking and shopping in Leigh and Southend is good, too. The place is fantastic. The district nurses and hospital are fantastic.

“I don’t think my disability should force me out.”

Southend Council’s head of planning and transport, Andrew Meddle, responded: “Mr Holmes has two options. He can either appeal against the decision, or take up his right to a free re-application. If he decides on the latter course, he does not lose his right to appeal, should his second application fail.

“If he does decide to re-apply our officers will be happy to advise him on how he can scale down the design, with the aim of allaying the concerns of the committee and neighbours.”