Man fined by Barking Council for illegal extension

A Barking resident has been fined £15,000 for illegally extending his property without planning permission.

The man applied for planning permission to build a first-floor rear extension to his property in 2005 but was refused permission. He then appealed and the appeal was dismissed.

In 2014, planning enforcement officers at the council became aware that the man had proceeded with the extension despite his refused application. He was issued with an enforcement notice in February 2015, which stated that the extension must be removed by June 2016. The man appealed against the enforcement notice and the action was put on hold until the decision was made.

The Planning Inspectorate dismissed the enforcement appeal, but he nevertheless refused to take down the extension.

The enforcement action proceeded again and the man was invited to attend a voluntary interview under caution to explain why he had not complied with the notice, which he ignored.

In January at Barking Magistrates Court, the man pleaded not guilty.

He was ordered to pay a fine of £15,000 fine and £1,490 in costs, as well as a victim surcharge of £170. He has three months to make the payment.

This case went on for almost 15 years and involved planning applications, appeals, enforcement action and legal action. The moral of the above case is to always apply for planning permission and to liaise with the council if you are unsure if planning permission is required. If an extension is built without permission, 4D Planning can help you to obtain retrospective planning permission or a lawful development for established use. If this is not possible then we can appeal the enforcement action and assist to the best of our ability to quash any enforcement action and to regularise the situation.

Please get in touch to discuss your case with us in confidence.