Gurwinder Singh, a homeowner in the West Midlands, has been told to demolish a mansion he built without planning permission.
The decision follows a three-year dispute with a neighbour when they knocked down their semi-detached house and replace it with a four-bedroom mansion.
In 2022 Walsall Council provided Gurwinder Singh with an enforcement notice ordering him to tear down the property following complaints from neighbours.
The demolition was postponed when the enforcement notice was appealed by Gurwinder Singh. However, the local authority upheld the enforcement notice and dismissed the appeal.
Initially, a planning permission was granted for a modest extension, but instead, the entire building was demolished and a brand-new house was built.
Inspector Andrew McGlone outlined in a decision notice:
"Setting aside the fact that the works are not an extension to the dwelling since it was demolished, the outcome of the assessment confirms that, the layout, footprint, scale, massing and appearance of the structure are different to the 2021 permission.
Hence, the appellants have not carried out the development granted through the 2021 permission and there is no other planning permission in place for the development that has taken place.
As a result, there has been a breach of planning control in respect of the partially erected replacement dwelling."
