Builder fined for unauthorised home extension

A builder who failed to pull down an unauthorised extension, 13 years after being ordered to, has been fined £3,000.

Mohammed Azhar built a single storey brick structure in Intake Road, Bradford, in 2011 as an addition to an existing extension to his terraced home.

Bradford Crown Court heard it took an enforcement notice, multiple letters, visits by planning officers and two appearances before magistrates before Azhar began work to remove it last month.

During the hearing on Friday, Azhar, 57, said he had built the extension for his elderly parents - who had since passed away - and had done his best to comply.

Azhar, a builder by trade, did not have planning permission for the work and was ordered to restore the building to its original state in March 2012, the Local Democracy Service reports.

Andrew Stranex, prosecuting on behalf of Bradford Council, said this enforcement notice should have been complied with by June 2012.

A retrospective application for the plans, submitted later that year, was refused by the council.

Mr Stranex said the defendant had been contacted numerous times over the years but to no avail, so the decision was made to prosecute in 2022.

In February 2024 Azhar pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an enforcement notice at Bradford Magistrates' Court and was fined £200.

He told magistrates he would have the extension demolished within three months, however, when work still had not been completed by November, he was ordered to appear at Kirklees Magistrates' Court.

The case was sent to the crown court where the judge was told demolition work was now under way.

Azhar apologised for his failure to act sooner, adding: "I did my best to comply.

"I built the extension for my parents who were very ill and couldn't go upstairs."

He said he was later told he did not need planning permission, and that the extension was "permitted development."

Mr Stranex clarified that when new "permitted development" rules were introduced, Azhar was told he could build an extension.

However, the extension he was allowed to build was not the one that had been in place for 13 years, and the time limit to build that had now expired.

Fining him £3,000, the judge told Azhar: "With your background being a builder you should have realised the seriousness of this."

Azhar was also ordered to pay a £200 surcharge and was told should he fail to demolish the structure, he would face further prosecution.

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