Legal News

Ealing Council has take enforcement action to demolish a large, unauthorised building constructed at the rear of a proposed care home facility in Southall, west London.

Planning permission granted in March 2012 was for a large-scale care home on the site, with a detached, single-storey building at the rear containing additional facilities and the wardens’ residential unit.

A site inspection by council officers during construction works found the detached building had not been built as specified in the approved plans, causing significant harm to neighbouring residents and properties.

In September 2013, the owner was served with the Enforcement Notice, which required the structure to be removed by the end of April 2014.

The council offered the owner advice to help address the impact of the development and bring the building back to an acceptable state, including that of re-applying for planning permission.

However, the developer failed to obtain planning permission to keep the structure as built and ignored the requirement to remove it.

Further warnings to comply with the notice were also ignored and the council demolished the unauthorised building at the owner’s cost.

Ealing Council’s executive director for regeneration and housing, Pat Hayes, said:

“Planning laws are in place to protect communities and stop unauthorised structures being put up indiscriminately.

“If necessary, the council will use these powers to take strong action and demolish buildings that do not comply with approved plans.

“The owner of this building was given every opportunity to find an alternative solution that would have been acceptable in planning terms.

“Failure to do so has resulted in the building being demolished by the council – and the owner paying the cost for flouting the law.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise on all housing and property matters, including planning applications and appeals, breaches of planning law and local authority enforcement notices.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and Duncan Lewis housing solicitors are also able to advise on private and public rental tenancies, including landlord and tenant disputes, breaches of tenancy agreements, disrepair and unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on housing and property law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.