Homeowner misses new deadline to demolish 'monster mansion' he built without planning permission

Watch: Homeowner ordered to demolish 'monster mansion' he built without permission

A homeowner who was ordered to demolish the "monster mansion" he built without planning permission has missed the latest deadline to knock it down.

Gurwinder Singh has been locked in a three-year dispute with residents after he bulldozed his semi-detached house and replaced it with a four-bedroom property that made his neighbours’ lives “hell”.

Residents in Willenhall, West Midlands, described the structure as being "like a Travelodge in the middle of a housing estate", while others branded it a "monstrosity" and "an eyesore".

Last year, Walsall Council handed Singh an enforcement notice ordering him to tear the building down following complaints from neighbours.

Singh appealed to the planning inspectorate but the local authority dismissed this in July and upheld the original enforcement notice.

Singh has since missed two more deadlines - he was given until 7 October to demolish the building to ground level and he was ordered to stabilise the adjoining property by Tuesday 7 November.

He was also ordered to remove all groundworks by 7 December, the Express & Star newspaper reported.

He must submit detailed coal mining assessments by 7 January 2024 and has until 7 April 2024 to remove all rubble from the site.

A spokeswoman for Walsall Council said: "If the owner is still in breach of the enforcement notice after the final 7 April 2024 deadline, the council will present the case to court."

The council could enter the land and carry out the necessary work if the enforcement notice ordering the demolition continues to be ignored.

Neighbours have been campaigning for three years to get the house, on the corner of Sandringham Avenue and Arundel Road, torn down.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said after the ruling in July: "We'll believe it when we see it as this has been going on for far too long.

"It sticks out like a sore thumb, I'm not sure how they thought they would ever get away with doing this.

"I saw it described as like having a Travelodge in the middle of a housing estate, and I think that sums it up. It's just so out of place and a real eyesore.

"We've all rallied together to object to this, so hopefully this is now the end of the saga and that monstrosity can be pulled down for good."

Another said: "I think it's right that he should tear it down.

“Why should you anyone get away with breaking the rules. The house is bloody huge and looks like a horrible monster mansion.

“None of the other houses in this area are that big, what on Earth was he thinking?”

A third added: "When the house started going up I heard the next door neighbour whose house is attached could actually see the cracks coming through their walls.

"I'm glad the council have nipped it in the bud now before it's finished. It was at least three times the size of the original house. It looks like a sports hall."

Singh had planning permission for a modest extension to the 1960s house in 2020 but he went further and demolished the entire building.

It is thought the brand new house would have cost in the region of £200,000 to build – and would have been the biggest property in the area.

In a decision notice, inspector Andrew McGlone said: "The appellant claims that the works which have taken place on site accord with the planning permission granted by the council on 17 May 2021 ('the 2021 permission') for a two-storey side extension and single-storey front extension for a front porch and bay window.

"Further, in respect of the outbuilding, the appellant contends that it is permitted development and does not require planning permission.

"Dimensions, taken on site, and agreed between the main parties, have allowed the parties to compare the floor plan of what has been built to the approved floor plan for the 2021 permission.

"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."

Committee chairman Mike Bird previously said: “This is a very serious situation.

“Walsall Council is going to put 'force' back into enforcement. When we find out, we will prosecute you.

“Adjoining neighbours have suffered hell. There has been a lack of co-operation from day one so I welcome the enforcement.

"We've got to be shown to make a stand against people who think they can build anything they like in relation to the planning permission they receive."