Saad Ahmad, 44, of The Larches in Uxbridge, was ordered to pay £7,589 after an investigation by Hillingdon Council found he had unlawfully extended a property at Lynhurst Crescent.
The director of Optimum Asset Investments Limited appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, November 18, where he admitted breaching planning control regulations and failing to comply with an enforcement notice.
His company was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £1,200, plus the council’s prosecution costs of £3,363.
Mr Ahmad received an 18-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay a £26 victim surcharge.
Councillor Steve Tuckwell, cabinet member for planning, housing and growth at Hillingdon Council, said: “This should serve as a reminder to every resident, landlord or businesses, that the correct procedures must be followed when undertaking construction on a property or hiring contractors.
“The council offers paid pre-planning advice on all proposals, so there is no excuse for breaching the rules.
“Planning laws are in place to keep residents safe and protect the environment, and if required, we will not hesitate to take robust action to enforce them.”
The investigation began on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, after complaints from residents prompted a visit by the council’s planning enforcement team.
They discovered an unauthorised front extension had been built without planning permission.
Mr Ahmad told officers he would submit a retrospective planning application, which was received in February 2023.
However, the council refused the application in March due to the extension’s size and poor design.
An appeal was rejected by the Planning Inspectorate, which described the structure as “unattractive” and “out of rhythm” with neighbouring properties.
Despite a warning letter and a subsequent enforcement notice, the extension remains in place.
Mr Ahmad submitted a revised application in November 2023, but this was also refused.
On Thursday, August 15, 2024, the council issued a planning enforcement notice requiring the full demolition of the unauthorised structure by Thursday, December 26.
The extension has not yet been fully removed and the council is continuing to engage with Mr Ahmad to secure compliance before taking additional enforcement action.
