Latest news with #MadamPalSingh
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Daily Record
Man who built house on his driveway forced to tear it down
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. Mr Singh claimed there were only 'minor differences' from what had originally been agreed, but was ordered to bulldoze the illegal structure. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 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." 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. 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."
The Sun
20-05-2025
- The Sun
My neighbour turned their garage into a ‘bizarre' two-storey ‘tiny home' on their driveway – it took YEARS to fight it
A NIGHTMARE neighbour who illegally built a two-storey house on their driveway has been forced to rip it down. Madam Pal Singh had been granted permission to build a single-storey garage at his home in Vaughton Street in Highgate, Birmingham back in 2019. 4 But he ignored the specifics of the planning permission he was given, and erected a two-storey house in his driveway. Mr Singh's neighbours were furious, and planning inspectors quickly became aware of the blatant violation of the agreed limits for the structure. After spotting the new home - the planning bosses ordered Mr Singh to bulldoze the illegal structure immediately. Mr Singh fought his case however, and appealed the decision by arguing there were only 'minor differences' to what was agreed. His family vowed it would stay put because they were using the 8.7m by 4.7m property as a gym, despite this being way above the 5.3m by 4.6m dimensions approved for the house. Mr Singh's fight was in vein however, as images taken on Monday show a much smaller garage where the house was previously visible. Neighbours have expressed their relief that the "bizarre long-running saga" is finally over - following years of noisy building work along their street. One anonymous resident, 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. 'This is predatory!' fumes driver over $825 bill for parking at his own home – company insisted it 'wasn't a normal tow' However, another local was more sympathetic to Mr Singh 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. 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." A Birmingham City Council said: "Planning consent was granted for a single story detached garage to the side of the property on Vaughton Street, Highgate on 7 March 2019. "The building erected following that permission bore little resemblance to the original scale and design, as a result enforcement action followed and remedial works carried out to reduce its size, returning it to its planned use as storage /garage. "Planning permission was already in place for a very similar building, so no further action was considered necessary. "Planning enforcement is essential for maintaining public confidence in the planning system. "Without it, there is a risk that unauthorised developments could undermine the legitimacy of approved plans and policies." Mr Singh could not be contacted for comment. 4
Wales Online
20-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Man who built house on his driveway after getting permission for a garage is forced to tear it down
Man who built house on his driveway after getting permission for a garage is forced to tear it down Madam Pal Singh was given the go-ahead to build a single-storey garage at his semi detached home in 2019 - but a small two-storey house was constructed on the driveway instead Madam Pal Singh built a small home on his driveway (Image: Joseph Walshe / SWNS ) A man who built a house on his driveway after receiving planning permission for just a garage has been forced to demolish it, ending a peculiar six-year dispute which one neighbour described as a "long-running saga". Madam Pal Singh was granted permission in 2019 to build a single-storey garage at his semi-detached property on Vaughton Street in Highgate, Birmingham. However, planning officials were left scratching their heads when they found a small two-storey house built on the driveway in October 2022 instead. Despite claiming the differences from the approved plans were only 'minor' during an appeal, Mr Singh was instructed to tear down the unauthorised building. The family insisted the structure would remain as they were utilising the 8.7m by 4.7m building as a gym. Yet, recent photographs reveal that Mr Singh has now transformed the edifice into the initially sanctioned 5.3m by 4.6m garage. The house has now been knocked down and changed into a garage (Image: Anita Maric / SWNS ) Local residents have expressed their relief that the "bizarre saga" has concluded after enduring years of construction work on their road. A neighbour, preferring to remain anonymous, commented: "We're glad it's finally all over now, it has been going on for years.", reports the Mirror. Article continues below "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." One local resident commented, "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." The small house was being used as a gym (Image: Joseph Walshe / SWNS ) However, another neighbour was sympathetic. They said: "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." Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here . "You would have thought they could have come to a bit of compromise with him to save a lot of time and money." Planning permission had initially been granted for a garage, but the constructed building exceeded the approved size by several metres. Planning Inspector Thomas Shields said 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." Article continues below
