An illegally-built six-bedroom mansion still has not been demolished despite the homeowner being ordered twice to remove it because it is ‘unneighbourly and overbearing’.
Neighbours have complained the ‘eyesore’ property in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, blocks all the light from their gardens and is out of keeping with the rest of the area.
The row centres on a two-storey extension at the back of the house which comes out further than what was approved in the original plans.
An enforcement notice was issued against homeowner Yasmin Akhtar last year telling her to either demolish the whole property or scale back the extension.
She appealed to the Planning Inspectorate in November but this too was dismissed on the basis her property ’causes harm’ to the living conditions of her neighbours.
The enforcement notice is yet to be complied with and this week building work was still underway at the mansion, with the windows boarded up and a van parked outside.
Furious locals said it appears to be a case of people ‘thinking they can do what they want’ and hoping that the ‘council won’t notice’.
A six-bed newbuild mansion in High Wycombe has not been demolished after an enforcement notice was issued. It is pictured in May last year
The row centres on a two-storey extension at the back of the house which comes out further than what was approved in the original plans
The windows of the property in High Wycombe were boarded up this week – with building work still underway
They also suggested the homeowner may have got into ‘competition’ with an even bigger home that was approved by the council and built on the road.
Planning agent Parry Virdee previously told the Daily Mail that the extension at the back of the newbuild six-bed property was due to a builder ‘misreading the plans’.
However, one neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘They are basically just trying to take the p***, thinking they can do what they want.
‘They must’ve thought the council wouldn’t notice.
‘I am not the immediate neighbour so it doesn’t really bother me but I do sympathise with the neighbours that have been affected.
‘The extension is clearly blocking their light and it has not been approved.’
Another man said: ‘It is an eyesore. It has been like that for a year or so now. It is not in keeping with the rest of the street.’
His wife added: ‘When we did our extension the planners were really strict.
‘When they see that one person can just do what they like it becomes a free for all.’
Documents on Buckinghamshire Council’s website show that permission was granted in 2024 for a six-bed home with three parking spaces to be built on the site.
But upon closer inspection the newbuild property was deemed to be bigger than what was initially agreed in the plans, with an extension coming out further at the back.
Image shows the property in 2023 before it was demolished and a six-bedroom home built in its place
Aerial photo shows the two new houses in High Wycombe (property on the right has been served an enforcement notice)
An appeal was lodged by Ms Akhtar with the Planning Inspectorate last year but this was also dismissed.
In the decision notice, the Planning Inspector said: ‘I have found that the proposal results in harm to the living conditions of the occupiers of a neighbouring property.’
Ms Akhtar also applied for Buckinghamshire Council to pay her costs associated with the appeal on the basis they had ‘behaved unreasonably’. This too was rejected.
Buckinghamshire Council has now said it will make ‘full use’ of its enforcement powers after the decision to comply with the enforcement notice expired on April 1.
Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: ‘The property constructed on this site was not built in accordance with the planning permission granted.
‘The owner sought to retain the building as built but this was refused planning permission and a subsequent appeal has been dismissed.
‘As such Buckinghamshire Council issued an enforcement notice on the property which the owners are legally required to comply with.
‘The notice is due to be complied with by April 1, 2026. In the meantime, the owner submitted a second planning application seeking to retain the dwelling with amendments. That second application was also refused permission.
‘If the notice is not complied with the council will assess the best next steps to resolve breach of planning control occurring, making full use of our enforcement powers as necessary.’
Buckinghamshire Council has now said it will make ‘full use’ of its enforcement powers after the decision to comply with the enforcement notice expired on April 1
However, some locals questioned why the owner should be ordered to demolish their home, when an even bigger property was allowed to be built nearby.
Aerial photos show the difference in the size of the two new houses compared to the others already on the road.
One neighbour said of the property that was given planning permission: ‘I just do not know how they got permission.
‘It just does not make sense. It is much bigger than the other one.
‘Of course the owners should’ve followed the rules but it seems like there is one rule for some and other rule for others.
‘How is it that this one was allowed and the other one wasn’t.’
Another added: ‘There have been loads of substantial builds around here. When I look at it I just think oh it’s another house.’
Ms Akhtar has been approached for comment.
