Perplexed neighbours living next to a man who built a house on his driveway without permission have breathed a sigh of relief after he finally converted it into a garage.
Homeowner Mr Singh ignited a six-year planning row after constructing the lodging outside his home in Highgate, Birmingham.
Originally, he had been given planning permission to build a single-storey garage at the property in Vaughton Street in 2019.
But Mr Singh left planning bosses stunned when they discovered the building had been converted into a tiny, two-storey house in October 2022.
Council chiefs ordered Mr Singh to rip down the home, despite his argument that the structure only had ‘minor differences’ to what was agreed.
The family had previously vowed to leave the 28.5ft by 15.4ft building in place, claiming they were using it as a gym.
However, the lodging was converted back to a one-story property with its former front door and dormer window replaced by a garage door.
Now photos this week have revealed the building has been ripped down and fully converted into the previously approved, smaller, 17.4ft by 15ft garage.
Neighbours have spoke 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.
‘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.’
The row has left locals in the deprived area of Birmingham scratching their heads.
Many felt sympathy with the homeowners who had taken a petition round for locals to sign in the hope of keeping their little house on the driveway.
Habib, 19, a student, told earlier this month: ‘I remember walking past this on my way to school when they were building it.
‘They put a lot of elbow grease into it. They were working from eight until five every day.
‘It wasn’t affecting anyone or blocking anyone’s view of anything. It was neat. I’d be fuming if I was them.’
Nessa Baharun, who can see the property from her back garden, said: ‘Sometimes the Council are just a bit over the top.
‘No-one has had their view ruined. If anyone was affected it would be this house and next door but it doesn’t bother us.
‘It just sits in the corner. I feel sorry for them. They must have lost a lot of money.
‘I have seen them taking furniture out of there, so I guess they just use it for storage.’
Locals said that the change from house to garage happened over two years ago.
One mechanic working on Vaughton Street, a collection of modern semi-detached homes facing a small patch of grass and factory units, said: ‘I don’t know what it is now. You couldn’t drive a car into it, you’d wreck your tyres.
‘And it is definitely not a house. It’s a nothing.’
Other locals questioned the Council’s priorities.
Neighbour Kemal, a businessman in his sixties, said: ‘It does look a bit weird now. It made more sense before and it was not affecting anyone because it was tucked into the corner of the drive.’
Shabana Mubarik, a teacher at the nearby Chandos Primary School, said: ‘This is a very deprived area. Staff regularly have to pick up canisters which are everywhere to protect the children.
‘So I don’t care about this little building. I guess it was some jealous neighbour who complained. You don’t know.
‘It makes sense to me to make use of the space you’ve got and their driveway allows them that space. I don’t know why anyone would have an issue with it.’
The Singh family initially put in their plans for a garage on their spacious driveway in 2019.
But it wasn’t until the aftermath of Covid that they started their build.
Birmingham planners said the end result differed substantially from what was agreed and the family went on to lose an appeal against the order to tear it down.
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: ‘Planning consent was granted for a single-story detached garage to the side of the property on Vaughton Street, Highgate on 7 March 2019.
‘The building erected following that permission bore little resemblance to the original scale and design, as a result enforcement action followed and remedial works carried out to reduce its size, returning it to its planned use as storage/garage.
‘Planning permission was already in place for a very similar building, so no further action was considered necessary.
‘Planning enforcement is essential for maintaining public confidence in the planning system.
‘Without it, there is a risk that unauthorised developments could undermine the legitimacy of approved plans and policies.’
Mr Singh could not be contacted for comment.
Birmingham City Council has been approached for comment.