Owners of a “monster mansion” that neighbours say resembles a Travelodge must tear it down.
Gurwinder Singh built the four-bedroom property in Willenhall, Walsall, in the West Midlands, after bulldozing his modest semi-detached home.
Now, after a three-year row, Walsall Council has ordered him to tear down the half-built structure after a barrage of complaints from neighbours who say the building work has made their “lives hell”, reports BirminghamLive.
The property is estimated to have cost £200,000 to build and would have been the biggest property in the area.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s about time – this has been going on for way too long and we just hope he sees it through now.
“We always said he’d never get away with it but as time went on you did wonder.
“It’s been hell living next to a construction site and half-built shell for three years.
They added: “We just hope he rips the rest of it down and doesn’t leave another mess.
“We’ll be relieved when it’s all done and dusted.”
Another resident said previously: “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? It was at least three times the size of the original house.
“It looks like a sports hall.”
Other nearby residents of the structure in Sandringham Avenue said it was an “eyesore” and “like a Travelodge in the middle of a housing estate”.
Delivery driver Mr Singh appealed to the Planning Inspectorate but the council dismissed the appeal and upheld the original enforcement notice in July.
Mr Singh has now started to demolish the structure and the work must be complete by April next year.
No planning permission for the property was sought, only a request to build a side extension in 2020 which was approved.
After work commenced for the new build two retrospective applications were made, the first was withdrawn and the second refused.
A spokesperson for Walsall Council told BirminghamLive: “The council is monitoring the situation to ensure all actions in the enforcement notice are complied with.
“We will review the need for potential further action once the final deadline for compliance has passed.
“We are aware that the owner has started demolition work and continue to monitor in accordance with the enforcement notice.
“The owner is undertaking works themselves at this stage.”
Express.co.uk has approached Walsall Council for comment.
