Civil war has erupted on a leafy street over a ‘horrific’ extension on a £1million property which neighbours claim they knew nothing about until it was finished.
Locals claim the new property is in breach of planning rules and looks like a ‘Los Angeles McMansion’.
The row has kicked off in the peaceful village of Stoke Poges in Buckinghamshire, where locals are ‘gearing up’ for a ‘planning battle’.
Councillors on Stoke Poges Parish Council and locals have accused owner Jag Bahia of breaching planning permission granted for his extension works on the property.
The property’s extended garage and roof, as well as altered window layouts, all deviate from the original plans approved by Buckinghamshire Council.
Nearby residents agreed with the parish council’s objection that the finished works are not in keeping with the traditional English character of the area – with one neighbour saying it was like living across the road from an American mansion.
Tracey Harvey, who has lived on the road for 22 years, said: ‘It’s just shocking to look at. It would look good in Hollywood – not here.
‘We are crying out for houses and yet people aren’t allowed to build. But they get away with it – it’s a joke.’
A planning row has erupted over a new property in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, which local residents claim is in breach of planning rules and looks like a ‘Los Angeles McMansion’
An artist’s impression of the proposed front elevation, as submitted to the council
This artist’s impression of the rear elevation is not the same as the property’s extended garage and roof, as well as altered window layouts, which locals say deviate from the original plans approved by Buckinghamshire Council
Neighbours claim they were forced to live next to a building site for years while the work was carried out
LOST IN TRANSLATION: Before and after plans reveal huge scale of development which neighbours say happened behind their backs
LOST IN TRANSLATION: Before and after plans reveal huge scale of development which neighbours say happened behind their backs
Tracey’s husband Frank, 88, said: ‘We’re a bit down about it all. It’s what people do – they chance it. It’s what’s going on all over this world – I don’t get it.’
A resident nearby said the finished works left the house too large for its plot – and strict repercussions should be carried out for any planning breaches.
She said: ‘Everyone thinks it’s oversized for the plot. I feel sorry for the neighbours. I think it’s way too big for where it is. It’s horrific.
She said: ‘If they fine them, they should make it more than £20,000. It would send a message. There should be repercussions.
‘Rule are there for a reason. Why should one person get away with it? It seems it’s about how much money you can throw at it.’
One nearby resident, who asked not to be named, said they had made dozens of reports to the Environment Agency due to builders burning material in the property’s garden during the works – but there was no indication that the issue was followed-up.
They said: ‘It’s a shame that we have got a situation where rather than the local authority enforcing the rules that make everything work, they put us in a position where they pit neighbour versus neighbour. Who doesn’t want to get on with people?’
Julie Devonald, 50, who has lived on Gerrards Cross Road for 33 years, said: ‘Some people are very cheeky. You give them an inch and they then take a mile.
Councillor Saera Carter said the parish council had to employ an outside expert to ‘unpick’ the planning application and works
Before and after pictures from Google Earth show how the house has been transformed
‘Just because you have done it, it doesn’t mean you can get away with it.’
Another resident said: ‘We’re all gearing up for a planning battle.’
Online records indicate that the property was sold for £1,225,000 in 2020.
The parish council has called in the application for a decision by Buckinghamshire Council’s East and South Area Planning Committee.
In its objection, the parish council argued that the proposed changes result in an inappropriate development due to substantial alterations.
They add that the development would harm both the character and setting of the area, representing an overdevelopment of the site with an unsuitable design.
The planning committee will meet on Tuesday, June 10, to decide on the application.
Councilor Saera Carter said the parish council had to employ an outside expert to ‘unpick’ the planning application and works.
She said: ‘The parish council employed for the first time ever a consultant to unpick this mess. We kept looking at it saying, “this doesn’t make sense, this doesn’t make sense”.’
Mr Bahia was approached for comment.
