Man who built house on his driveway forced to tear it down

Daily Record

20-05-2025

Madam Pal Singh was granted planning permission for a single-storey garage at his semi-detached home - but built a two-storey home instead.
A man who built a two-storey house on his driveway after only being given planning pemission for a garage has had to pull it down following a bizarre six year row.
Madam Pal Singh was granted planning permission for a single-storey garage at his semi detached home on Vaughton Street in Highgate, Birmingham, back in 2019. But council bosses were left baffled after a small two-storey house had been constructed on the driveway instead in October 2022, reports the Mirror.
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Mr Singh claimed there were only 'minor differences' from what had originally been agreed, but was ordered to bulldoze the illegal structure.
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The family even argued that the 8.7m by 4.7m property was being used as a gym. However, in images taken on Monday it appeared Mr Singh had converted the building into the previously approved 5.3m by 4.6m garage.
Neighbours have spoken of their relief that the "bizarre saga" was finally over following years of building work along their street. One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "We're glad it's finally all over now, it has been going on for years.
"I dread to think what it has cost the poor bloke. To build a house, knock it down and then build a garage instead, must have cost tens of thousands of pounds at least. But he's only got himself to blame, I don't know how he thought he was ever going to get away with it.
"The building work has been a bit of a pain but I'm just happy we don't have to look at that eyesore anymore. It's been a very bizarre, long-running saga."
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However, another local was more sympathetic and added: "I feel a bit sorry for him to be honest. Yes it wasn't what was entirely agreed, but it looked smart. And some of the houses around here are much more run down.
"You would have thought they could have come to a bit of compromise with him to save a lot of time and money." Planners had originally given approval for a garage to be built at the location, which the new building exceeded by several metres.
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Planning Inspector Thomas Shields wrote in his report: "The appellant's case is that the building already benefits from planning permission granted by the council in 2019.
"He argues that although there are differences between the approved plans for the garage and the appeal building they are minor differences. The approved plans for the garage show a single storey detached garage with a footprint of 5.3m x 4.6m and a height of 3.6m.
"It was also shown having a standard garage door to the front and no windows on any elevation. In comparison with the approved garage the appeal building has a footprint of approximately 8.7m x 4.7m and a height of 5.3m Consequently, it is substantially larger than the approved building. It is not a minor difference."