25 February 2024 , 15:44
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A man has been ordered to knock down an £8,000 extension after a 12-year planning battle, despite his neighbours having no issue with the addition.
Mohammed Azhar, 57, added a 13ft extension to his terraced home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, back in 2011 so his parents could make use of a downstairs bathroom facility. But the wet room was ordered to be demolished in 2012 when council bosses refused to approve a retrospective planning application.
Over a decade on from the initial build and with no complaints from neighbours, Bradford Council has now enforced the order to remove the extension. Mr Azhar was taken to court and fined after being charged with failing to comply with an enforcement notice.
Mr Azhar says neighbours have not complained about the extension (Ben Lack Photography Ltd)Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mohammed said: "My neighbours don't mind, so what's the problem? There was a garage here and we turned it into a toilet and shower room. It was to help my parents who had to live with us because of their health. They couldn't get up the stairs to use the toilet and I just wanted to look after them.
"It's not like I've built a massive extension to benefit me, or to make money out of. It was just to help my family. I didn't go to the council and beg them for help, I just got on with it and sorted it out myself. I was just trying to do the right thing for my family." Bradford City Council refused the planning consent in 2011 and has since ordered the build to be torn down.
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They refused the extension after arguing the shower room was added onto an existing 9.8ft kitchen extension. Because of the additions, the council argues Mr Azhar's build had an "overbearing impact" on his neighbours, none of which have said a word about the extension according to the property owner. He appealed the decision but a government inspector upheld the refusal.
The extension had been built to facilitate Azhar's parents, who lived at the property (Ben Lack Photography Ltd)Mr Azhar added: "They kept quiet for years. Once the councillors told me "it's permitted development, you don't need planning permission. They came out and looked at it for themselves and said not to worry. None of the neighbours have ever complained. If you look around here there are extensions everywhere and people have not got permission.
"It looks nice - it suits the existing house. It's not like I've used cheap bricks. I've got pride in it because I did a good job. It's not too high and it doesn't go out all the way to the boundary. I don't see what the problem is." Mohammed pleaded guilty at Bradford magistrates' court and was fined £200, and ordered to pay a further £800 to the council.
Jabran Hussain, defending, told the court: "His parents have since passed away, and he has been hit with problems of his own that have given him serious mobility issues. He now understands the only way forward is to comply with the enforcement notice. Within two months this extension will be demolished at great expense. A new application will then be submitted to build something the council will be happy with."