Man who built house instead of garage finally relents after six-year battle

MADAM PAL SINGH, 60, WAS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT TO BUILD A SINGLE-STOREY GARAGE IN HIGHGATE BUT INSTEAD BUILT A TWO-STOREY HOUSE 10:47, 20 May 2025 A homeowner who built a detached house on

his drive without permission has finally turned it into a garage after a six-year battle. Madam Pal Singh received permission to construct a single-storey garage at his semi-detached

property on Vaughton Street in Highgate, in 2019. But council planners were left scratching their heads when they found a small two-storey home built on the driveway in October 2022. READ

MORE: HUGE FIRE IN BUILDING LIVE – BLAZE IN CITY CENTRE LEADS TO EVACUATIONS Mr Singh faced orders to demolish the unauthorised building even after he appealed, claiming the differences from

the approved plans were only 'minor'. The family had also insisted the 8.7m by 4.7m structure would remain as they were using it as a gym. But new photos showed Mr Singh had

completed the conversion back to the original 5.3m by 4.6m garage specification. Article continues below Residents expressed their relief at the end of the "bizarre saga" after

enduring years of construction activity on their street. A neighbour said: "We're glad it's finally all over now, it has been going on for years. "They must have spent a

fortune – to build a house, tear it down, and then erect a garage must have cost a hefty sum. "But he's only got himself to blame, I don't know how he thought he was going to

get away with it. "The building work has been a bit of a pain but I'm happy we don't have to look at that eyesore anymore. It's been a very bizarre, long-running

saga." Another resident expressed sympathy, saying: "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." Originally, planners

had given the green light for a garage to be constructed at the site, but the new structure exceeded the approved dimensions by several metres. Planning Inspector Thomas Shields noted in his

report: "The appellant's case is 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" Article continues below "Consequently, it is substantially larger than the approved building. It

is not a minor difference." Mr Singh was unavailable for comment. Birmingham City Council was contacted for a response.