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. 17:14, 20 May 2025 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

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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. Article continues

below "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."