The man who built a two-story house in his driveway: How did the family start a war with the council on illegal houses…but who won three years later?
It was a fanatical move by a homeowner that sparked a year of dispute with Birmingham Council.
After building a two-story house in place of the modest garage, Mr. Singh was ordered to demolish a building in the driveway.
The council owner was shocked to discover the family, which initially obtained approval for a single-storey garage on its semi-detached property in Gaugert, Birmingham, and instead built a small house.
When MailOnline visited the property in October 2022, the homeowner lost his appeal to the enforcement action, but the structure, including the large roof window, remained intact.
But three years later, the building, while still standing, looks completely different.
Discussions between Mr. Singh and the Council led to the acceptance of modifications that made it look like a garage while maintaining the front door.
The front door of the mini product has now been replaced by traditional garage doors, with large windows on the sides having been torn off.
The exercise has made locals in impoverished areas of Birmingham scratch their heads.
A small house was built on the driveway instead of the garage, shocking the Birmingham City Council owner. The picture shows the two-story house looking like before
The program application was originally approved in 2009 for single-story garages on driveways. But instead, two-story property has been established
Original plans submitted to Birmingham City Council seem to show the traditional garage built
Many people felt sympathy for homeowners, who signed petitions for locals in the hope of putting their small house in the driveway.
Habib, 19, a student, said: “I remember walking on the way to school when they built it.
“They add a lot of elbow grease to it. They work from eight to five a day.
“This will not affect anyone, nor will it stop anyone from thinking about anything. This is very neat. If I were them, I would smoke.
But despite dozens of signatures collected, the Singer family (its property) was forced to significantly change the structure.
Nessa Baharun, who can see the property from her back garden, said: “Sometimes, the Council is a little high.
“No one thinks their opinion is ruined. If anyone is affected, it will be the house and next door, but it won’t bother us.
‘It just sits in the corner. I feel sorry for them. They must have lost a lot of money.
“I’ve seen them pull the furniture out of there, so I think they just use it for storage.”
Locals say the change from the house to the garage happened two years ago.
A mechanic working on Vaughton Street, a modern semi-detached house facing a small piece of grass and a factory unit, said: “I don’t know what it is now. You can’t drive there, you’ll destroy the tires.
“It is definitely not a house. nothing.
Other locals questioned the Council’s priorities.
“It does look a bit weird now. It’s more meaningful before and it won’t affect anyone because it’s stuffed into the corner of the drive.
“There are many problems in this area and the building is not one of them.
Images show what the “garage” now looks like, with the front door replaced by traditional garage doors
The large roof window on the side of the building has now been removed
“It’s much larger than approved buildings. That’s not a minor difference,” Thomas Shields, the Secretary of State appointed inspector, wrote in a March 2022 plan report.
Google Streetview image of the property before the application for manufacturing the garage, the property’s image
Street view shows that the structure was built when a small house is
Drug use is prevalent. The area is covered with these top whip jars that are some kind of drug.
“We have an elementary school on the way and kids have to cross garbage and drugs on the way to school.
“There is a piece of trash full of grass and the council is worried about a neat little building.”
“This is a very poor area. Staff regularly have to pick up any place to protect the kids’ jars.
“So I don’t care about this little building. I think it was a jealous neighbor complaining. you do not know.
“For me, using the space you have, their driveways can make them space. I don’t know why anyone is having problems.
Kyah Rosser, 18, walked dogs, added: “I have lived here all my life and I think the council should definitely allow them to keep what they do.
‘This is their land. This makes no difference to anyone.
The Singh family initially developed their plans in a spacious driveway in 2009.
The Singh family initially developed their garage plan in a spacious driveway in 2009
The “garage” is located in its semi-detached house
The building still has a second floor with a window to the facade of the structure
But it was not until the consequences of Covid that began to build.
The end result was very different from the agreed outcome, with the family continuing to appeal the order to remove the order.
Most locals recall Mrs. Singer’s petition around the area asking neighbors to support them.
Geoff, 60, said: “I signed up to support them, but they misled the government, so they always have trouble.
“You can’t say you want a garage and build a house, even if it doesn’t make any difference. Rules are rules.
But Kerry, a 30-year-old mom, said: “I do feel bad for them. They have a plan to make their lives better and spend a lot of money and now they can’t use it for the intended purpose.
“It doesn’t stop any scenery. There is not much to see here.
The Singh family (their property) did not want to comment further, saying the issue is now over.
