Steve McCabe MP was perplexed to hear from the Planning Department they will not take enforcement in some cases on unauthorised buildings as they probably would have approved the application anyway.
After years of raising concerns about unauthorised builds with Birmingham City Council, little to no enforcement action has been taken in Steve’s Selly Oak constituency. Steve recently visited one of his constituent’s whose neighbour had built a detached garden building without planning permission, which encroached on to his property.
Steve raised this case among others with the Council’s Planning Department and was told that whilst no application had been submitted, if it had, the application would still have been approved.
The Council told Steve that even though planning permission was required, the building in question was likely to obtain planning permission, even though the owners did not submit a planning application. Once again the Council told Steve that they did not consider it expedient to take enforcement action.
Steve McCabe MP said:
“This latest gem from Birmingham City Council won’t give much assurance to hard working home owners whose neighbourhoods are being ruined by rogue landlords who build what they want with no regard for their neighbours or the local community. The number of unauthorised building works popping up across my constituency is evidence that the lacklustre approach by the council to enforcement action simply encourages dodgy landlords to get away with what they want.
“On one hand we are being told planning permission is required whilst at the same time we’re told there’s no need to submit a planning application as the council will approve it anyway. What kind of message does this send to hard working local residents that abide by planning law, one rule for you, another for the dodgy landlords? This simply isn’t good enough and I’ll continue to apply pressure on the council to take some real enforcement action when it is clear and obvious that it is required.”
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