‘I spent £180k on garden flat I now have to tear down'
An IT engineer has been ordered to tear down a £180,000 bungalow he built in his garden without planning permission.
Mark Jones, 55, replaced an old garage in his back garden with a two-bedroom 'granny flat' and hooked up the electricity, water and internet to his house in March 2019.
The 83-square-metre annex, featuring a kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom and storeroom, was completed six months later.
He did not apply for planning permission, believing it was legal owing to its size and the utilities being connected to the main house.
Mr Jones hoped his ill father Tony, 71, would move into the property in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, but he died of bowel cancer months later so it was used by his grown-up daughter and her boyfriend during the Covid lockdowns.
But after three neighbours complained, claiming it was 'over intensive', Birmingham city council ordered him to tear it down in 2021.
Mr Jones said he believed the building complied with planning laws and lodged a retrospective planning application. The plan was rejected and, despite making a second application, he was told the property broke planning regulations.
He has been ordered to demolish the bungalow by the end of the month or face possible further legal action.
Mr Jones, who moved into the building after he and his wife divorced, said he will be homeless if he is forced to demolish the building.
The father-of-two said: 'The bungalow was within the permitted development rights and could have habitable rooms. It was meant for my father and reliant on the main house.'
He said because several nearby properties had two-storey buildings in their gardens 'I thought it was fine' and saw his original £60,000 plans double after adding in a kitchen.
Mr Jones completed the inside and appealed to the planning inspectorate after being warned he needed planning permission.
But in February 2021 the inspector refused and said the bungalow was 'alien' to the area.
Mr Jones said: 'There is no public interest in taking the bungalow down, so I don't know why they're making me. You look at other houses on the street and I can't see why we wouldn't get permission for it.
'It was never meant to be a separate building, it was supposed to be part of the main house. It doesn't have its own water, internet, council tax or waste.
'It is still part of the main house. I should've waited for planning permission but people can see why I haven't. I was in a hurry to get my dad moved in.'
Accusing the council of 'bullying' him, he used Google maps to investigate his neighbour's gardens and 'thought it was safe'.
'Loads of people have done this. If I tear it down I've got nowhere else to go so I'll probably be on the streets. To me the council is bullying me.'
Mr Jones has applied for a new permitted development certificate application with the council.
Even if it is granted, he will still have to tear down the original bungalow and build it again to comply with the council's rules.
A spokesman for Birmingham city council said: 'Mr Jones is currently in breach of the enforcement notice that was served to him in 2021, and we have given him ample time to comply with the notice by the end of June 2025.
'A decision will be made imminently on the lawful development certificate that Mr Jones has submitted, and a case officer will then be in contact with him to advise further.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Flying displays and parades mark Armed Forces Day in Scarborough
Thousands of people attended Armed Forces Day celebrations at Scarborough's South Bay earlier in support of military events at St Nicholas Gardens included marching bands, air displays and parades, while also marking 80 years since the D-Day Hume, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said the celebrations were a reminder of the importance of the armed said: "It is a very uncertain time, as a government we're looking to spend more on defence. "The world is shifting on its axis so today is an important reminder that it's not just about the past, it's about keeping our country safe today."Some people aren't here today and we have to remember them. Others who have served and are here today are a reminder of how much we depend on people to serve so that we can enjoy all the freedoms of democracy." Wing Cdr Toby Steward, station commander at RAF Fylingdales near Pickering said his team were proud to be involved in the said: "It's enormously important because of the incredible efforts that we all know the armed forces are making at the moment here and overseas and I think that sense of recognition adds to the energy."The event included displays from the Norwegian Marching Bands, the City of Hull and Scarborough Royal Air Force Cadets and Starlings Aerobatic Team. Hume said she had attended the parades before, but it was her first year attending as MP for the town."We do a really good armed forces day in Scarborough, it's great to see the town turn out," she said."I'm incredibly proud to represent a town like this that puts veterans and service personnel at the heart."I always look forward to the parades. I look forward to seeing the Sea Cadets particularly, I've got a soft spot for them. Their parents will be incredibly proud of them." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Tesco is selling a £6.99 buy that'll get rid of pesky flies in seconds, and it's completely chemical-free too
WHEN you spend long summer days in the garden, keeping pesky flies and mosquitos at bay is a top priority. Fortunately, there are many great repellent options available if you're tired of the constant buzzing by your ears. 3 3 However, for pest control that also makes your outdoor space look better, it's worth considering adding a special plant that will kill the unwelcome visitors. Most of us have heard that adding basil or rosemary to the greenery works wonders. But turns out, there's another plant worth snapping up from your local Tesco - the Venus Fly Trap. The ultimate natural pest control is this carnivorous plant that captures pesky insects and spiders in its claw-like, clamshell-shaped leaves. Once the pest has been trapped, the plant snaps them shut, and then "eats" its unsuspecting prey by releasing digestive enzymes. While these plants are certainly fascinating and entertaining to watch, the Venus Fly Trap requires rather specific conditions. For best results, you should plant it outside for full sun - however, if that's not an option, you can keep it on a sunny windowsill with an additional artificial light nearby. The fly-munching trap also likes wet soil, meaning if in a pot, its roots must always be sitting in water. As the plant can't handle hard water that comes from most taps in the UK, it's strongly advised to keep it hydrated with distilled or clean rainwater. If the trap is unable to catch food on its own, green-fingered Brits should keep it fed with insects, blood worms, or fish food. The 2C method which stops flies plaguing your home and ruining your BBQ Keen to see whether this chemical-free solution works? Shoppers can snap up Venus Fly Trap in a Tin from Tesco for just £6.99, order it from Amazon for £13.99 or buy it from their local B&Q on sale for £16.35. One person who was recently amazed by how well the plant worked was Irish lass and TikToker Hannah Tuite - her plant caught a fly just an hour after purchasing it. ''Wasn't expecting this to work, let alone so quick,'' she told fellow social media users in the now-viral video. Why do flies come out in summer? Flies are present all year round, but all of a sudden when summer comes, they are just EVERYWHERE! The main contributing factors are the breeding cycle of flies and the soaring temperatures. Insects are cold blooded and in summer, when their body temperature rises from the external heat, they become more active. The hotter weather also let's them seek out cool moist spots, like inside your home, to escape from the sweltering heat and to lay their eggs. House Fly eggs take around 20 hours to hatch, but when the temperature rises above 37 degrees, can hatch within 8 hours! In extreme hot weather the eggs can mature from larvae to adult fly in as little as four days. The average lifespan of a housefly is 21 days, so each female can lay up to 900 eggs during the summer months! However, if you're on the lookout for a less barbaric option, the stunning lavender works a treat too - and it will leave your garden smelling amazing. Although lavender is one of the most beloved scents for humans, flies can't stand the scent of it. Therefore, if you plant the fragrant flower near the entrance to your home or on the windowsill, it will act as a barrier against flies. Plus, lavender also attracts bees, which will give your garden a wildlife boost. lavender plant for just £3.79. The bargain bloom will be available at stores across the UK from June 12, so flower fans had better set their alarms to be in with the chance of snagging the product.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
How do I grow a climber on my house?
I want to start growing a climber over the back of my 1890s end-of-terrace house. Do you have any tips for choosing one that doesn't need too much attention? I'm leaning towards a wisteria or a Virginia creeper. What do I need to know? Any tips for when to plant, how to prune and so on? Also, I'm a tad worried that planting a climber close to a house could cause damage to the property. Is this something I should be concerned about? Jennifer Way, London Climbers fall into two camps: 'self-clingers' that stick like Spider-Man to walls, and 'scramblers' that require the support of wires, trellis or a tree to clamber skywards. The latter is the only choice if your bricks and mortar are crumbly — scramblers will clad, not cling, to a wall's surface. Wires, held proud of the wall on loop-head screws (commonly known as vine eyes) are the most economical and least visible supports. Space 45cm apart across the scrambling chocolate vine (Akebia quinata), for example — its summer flowers have a vanilla aroma. Or passion flower can be planted at the base and left to it. If you're prepared to prune twice a year and wait a few seasons, wisteria will bring bags of cottage garden charm. There are lots of excellent varieties including whites and pinks but if it's a classic violet you're after, strongly scented 'Amethyst' is excellent. Always buy wisteria labelled as 'grafted' because these plants come into bloom more quickly and have better flowers than cheaper seed-grown equivalents. If your wall is sound, self-clingers like trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) will add a tropical touch and zingy orange summer flowers. Hydrangea seemannii is classy and cool with white blooms and large lustrous leaves that stay evergreen in most city gardens. Unless you're good on a ladder avoid Virginia creeper and Boston ivy, which will be over your roof if left unchecked. You can plant climbers now provided you keep the soil well-watered through summer. They won't damage foundations or the wall provided you plant 60cm away from the wall with the top angled towards the brickwork. Toby Buckland, presenter of Gardeners' World, Woman dusting heating radiator with a duster at home, copy space GETTY I'm spring-cleaning. What's the best way to get the dust out from behind a radiator? DB Wrap a cloth in rough gathers around a bamboo stick and either tie or tape it in place. Then work gently up and down and sideways against the wall and radiator. A feather duster or nozzle attachment of a vacuum cleaner might be sufficient. Rosemary Morton Jack, Oxfordshire Long narrow brushes do the job. You can find them at Lakeland. Hannah Colton, London I found the best way is to use a hairdryer to blow air at the highest speed from the top of the radiator downwards. Then just vacuum the embarrassingly large amount of dust that comes out of the bottom. Anne Duncan I bought shisha pipe cleaners in the Middle East for this. They work brilliantly. In the UK, try or other online suppliers. Sarah T What is the best dog hair vacuum cleaner? My old one is kaput. Advice please. KB Send tips and questions to homehelp@ Advice given without responsibility
