Planning row forces dad to demolish 'monster mansion' after nearly 100 complaints
The property in Shortheath has attracted controversy
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A "monster mansion" that was built without planning permission is now being demolished after a community row.
Gurwinder Singh lost a three-year long battle with his neighbours in Shortheath, near Walsall in the West Midlands.
Singh bulldozed his modest semi-detached house in the West Midlands back in 2020. He illegally replaced it with a £300,000 four-bedroom property.
However, the property received more than 95 complaints from local residents in the area, he was ordered by Walsall Council to tear down the half-built home.
Mr Singh was ordered by Walsall Council to tear down the property
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Neighbours described the "eyesore" as "like a Travelodge in the middle of a housing estate".
The council dismissed an appeal Singh made to the Planning Inspectorate and upheld the original enforcement notice in July.
He was also threatened with court action if he failed to comply with the enforcement notice by April next year.
One resident said previously: "The house is bloody huge and looks like a horrible monster mansion."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The property before the renovations were made
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Singh has now finally begun to demolish the building, with the first floor now having been turn down - much to the delight of surrounding residents in Sandringham Avenue.
One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's about time - this has been going on for way too long and we just hope he sees it through now.
"We always said he'd never get away with it but as time went on you did wonder. It's been hell living next to a construction site and half-built shell for three years. We just hope he rips the rest of it down and doesn't leave another mess. We'll be relieved when it's all done and dusted."
The dad-of-two had never applied for planning permission and was only been given the green light for a side extension to the existing 1960s house in 2020.
It is thought the brand new house would have cost in the region of £200,000 to build
When enforcement got involved, two retrospective planning applications were submitted – the first of which was withdrawn and the second refused.
A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “The Council is monitoring the situation to ensure all actions in the enforcement notice are complied with.
"We will review the need for potential further action once the final deadline for compliance has passed.
We are aware that the owner has started demolition work and continue to monitor in accordance with the enforcement notice. The owner is undertaking works themselves at this stage."