Woman hit with huge bill and ordered to tear down extension down at home following planning 'saga'

A woman has been told to demolish her two-storey extension following a planning saga, council bosses have said. In May 2021, the town hall's planning enforcement team said they became aware of a potentially illegal extension being built at a property on Birchfields Road in Fallowfield, Manchester.

According to the town hall, officers discovered the owner of the property - 56-year-old Michelle Naimah Sharif - had not obtained any planning permission. She was ordered to cease construction immediately.

The council said work on the extension continued into the summer, leading to council bosses issuing a planning enforcement notice on June 22, 2021, ordering the works to be demolished.

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The town hall said an option was included to allow a single-storey extension to be built, in line with previously-granted planning permission. The council said they had rejected a subsequent application for the retention of the development, which was then appealed by the homeowner.

The appeal, the council said, was dismissed by the planning inspector in February 2022. The inspector said the unauthorised development 'is out of keeping and it is poorly related to the rear [of the property], adding: "It is visually obtrusive and discordant and it is not sympathetic to its host or the surrounding built environment. It does not contribute positively to a strong sense of place and it detracts from the overall quality of the townscape."

The town hall said the inspector also pointed out harm caused to the living conditions of nearby residents due to the works. Despite extensive engagement and the decision of the planning inspector, the council said the planning enforcement notice, was still ignored - forcing them to seek legal measures.

According to the council, at a hearing at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, November 12, Ms Sharif admitted to violating the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The presiding district judge imposed a fine of £5,000, with an additional victim surcharge of £2,000.

The council said Ms Sharif was also instructed to pay the town hall £12,745 for legal and investigatory expenses. Adding the order to demolish the extension still stands.

Councillor Gavin White, executive member for housing and development, said: "This has been a long-running saga caused by the inexplicable refusal of this homeowner to comply with a legal order.

"Planning law is incredibly important and is put in place to protect the rights of residents as well as preserve the amenity of communities which could be negatively impacted by a rogue development. In this case, the council's position was fully vindicated by the planning inspector and then the District Judge.

"We will continue to ensure this extension is demolished and that this case is finally resolved."