Steve McCabe MP, Birmingham Selly Oak, will continue his fight to protect family homes in Selly Oak despite a poor response from the government.
He has expressed his anger at the government’s behaviour and poor response to his Protection of Family Homes (Enforcement and Permitted Development) Bill. It failed to progress beyond Second Reading because of the behaviour of Tory MPs who have pushed it to the back of the queue.
He says he won’t be letting this go. Steve will attempt to reintroduce the Bill which could see the Council levy fines in the hope of stopping rogue landlords riding roughshod over the law and communities.
Over recent years Selly Oak has seen a growth of unauthorised HMOs and the misuse of permitted development. Steve recently urged the Planning Inspectorate to dismiss appeals from Britannia Property Group who have carried out unauthorisedextensions to family homes on Gristhorpe Road and Warwards Lane. Five council enforcement notices have been served and 4 appeals have been dismissed by the DCLG’s Planning Inspectorate but the outbuildings remain standing and Britannia are yet to comply with enforcement notices instructing them to demolish the outbuildings. Britannia is currently appealing a 5thenforcement notice with the Planning inspectorate. Steve has contacted the DCLG once again urging them to dismiss this.
The Council have confirmed that prosecution cases are being compiled against the Group.
Steve McCabe MP said:
“I’m furious about the government’s attitude. Despite acknowledging that a number of rogue landlords have no regard for planning legislation or building regulations there was nothing in their recent White Paper to deal with the exploitation of permitted development rights. I introduced my Bill with the aim of strengthening planning enforcement practices by imposing fines on landlords and developers who violate planning regulations.
“Dodgy landlords purposely try to drag out enforcement notices for as long as possible, showing utter contempt for the local community. I’m pleased to see the Council are taking action but a change in law is needed which is why I’m not letting my Bill to Protect Family Homes go. I’ve heard from far too many of my constituents who’ve had their homes devalued and privacy affected to just give up.”
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