'Neighbour blasted holes in my wall and I had to play Queen to drown out sound'

19 July 2023 , 17:01

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Gurwinder Singh has been ordered to demolish a "monster mansion" he built without planning permission (Image: SWNS)

A homeowner says she had holes put through her bedroom wall and had to blast the music of Queen to drown out her next door neighbour's daily jackhammering.

Gurwinder Singh has been ordered to demolish a "monster mansion" he built without planning permission following a three year dispute with his neighbours.

He bulldozed his modest semi-detached house and replaced it with a four-bedroom property which made his neighbours' lives "hell". Locals in Willenhall, West Midlands, described is as being "like a Travelodge in the middle of a housing estate" while others branded it a "monstrosity" and "an eyesore."

Last year, Walsall Council slapped Mr Singh with an enforcement notice ordering him to tear the building down following complaints from residents. Mr Singh appealed to the Planning Inspectorate but the local authority has now dismissed the appeal and upheld the original enforcement notice.

The house before work started (SWNS)

The woman living next door - who wished to remain anonymous - said the loud building work went on daily until late at night. She told the MailOnline: "I was sat in bed reading a book one day and then I heard this banging and this beam had gone into my bedroom wall. They started jack hammering this wall at 8am in the morning until 10pm at night...I used to put Queen on to drown them out!"

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She went on to say workers knocked down her fence and used her ladders without asking. "Anyone could walk through the house and get onto my garden. He told me the building in the back was a garage but I asked if he had a flying car as there was no way to get to it and it was so small," she said.

Neighbours say they hope the row can finally be resolved after three years of trying to get the house on the corner of Sandringham Avenue and Arundel Road torn down. One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We'll believe it when we see it as this has been going on for far too long.

Neighbours say they hope the row can finally be resolved after three years (SWNS)

"It sticks out like a sore thumb, I'm not sure how they thought they would ever get away with doing this. I saw it described as like having a Travelodge in the middle of a housing estate, and I think that sums it up. It's just so out of place and a real eyesore. We've all rallied together to object to this, so hopefully this is now the end of the saga and that monstrosity can be pulled down for good."

Another previously said: "I think it's right that he should tear it down. Why should you anyone get away with breaking the rules. The house is bloody huge and looks like a horrible monster mansion. None of the other houses in this area are that big, what on earth was he thinking?"

A third added: "When the house started going up I heard the next door neighbour whose house is attached could actually see the cracks coming through their walls. I'm glad the council have nipped it in the bud now before it's finished. It was at least three times the size of the original house. It looks like a sports hall."

Mr Singh had planning permission for a modest extension to the 1960s house in 2020 (SWNS)

Mr Singh had planning permission for a modest extension to the 1960s house in 2020 but he went one step further and demolished the entire building. It is thought the brand new house would have cost in the region of £200,000 to build - and would have been the biggest property in the area.

In a decision notice, inspector Andrew McGlone said: "The appellant claims that the works which have taken place on site accord with the planning permission granted by the council on May 17, 2021 ("the 2021 permission") for a two-storey side extension and single-storey front extension for a front porch and bay window.

"Further, in respect of the outbuilding, the appellant contends that it is permitted development and does not require planning permission.

It is thought the brand new house would have cost in the region of £200,000 to build (SWNS)

"Dimensions, taken on site, and agreed between the main parties, have allowed the parties to compare the floor plan of what has been built to the approved floor plan for the 2021 permission.

"Setting aside the fact that the works are not an extension to the dwelling since it was demolished, the outcome of the assessment confirms that, the layout, footprint, scale, massing and appearance of the structure are different to the 2021 permission.

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"Hence, the appellants have not carried out the development granted through the 2021 permission and there is no other planning permission in place for the development that has taken place.

"As a result, there has been a breach of planning control in respect of the partially erected replacement dwelling."

Neighbours described it as a sports hall or Travelodge (SWNS)

Committee Chairman Mike Bird said previously: "This is a very serious situation. Walsall Council is going to put 'force' back into enforcement. When we find out, we will prosecute you.

"Adjoining neighbours have suffered hell. There has been a lack of co-operation from day one so I welcome the enforcement. We've got to be shown to make a stand against people who think they can build anything they like in relation to the planning permission they receive."

A Walsall Council spokesman said: "We can confirm that the Planning Inspector's appeal decision dated July 7, 2023 has been received by the local planning authority. The Inspector has upheld the council's enforcement notice (with some changes made including compliance period)."

Adam Dutton