Keep your illegal extension we are too broke to enforce

[Saleen836]

Home owner builds box dormer without planning permission, retrospective planning gets rejected but Swindon council say it can now stay as we don't have the staff or funds to enforce it!

I see a lot more illegal extensions going on in light of this

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/25556187....

[Mrr T]

Saleen836 said:

Home owner builds box dormer without planning permission, retrospective planning gets rejected but Swindon council say it can now stay as we don't have the staff or funds to enforce it!

I see a lot more illegal extensions going on in light of this

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/25556187....

I assume the house is now unsaleable.

[Wacky Racer]

I would not be happy if I lived in the house behind, looks a bit of an eyesore, although the quality of the work looks OK.

[StevieBee]

Wacky Racer said:

I would not be happy if I lived in the house behind, looks a bit of an eyesore, although the quality of the work looks OK.

I presume you mean the house to the left.

Looks are subjective, I know, but I wouldn't say that's an eyesore at all.

[Pupp]

Planning enforcement is a discretionary function; it’s up to planning authorities whether and how vigorously they enforce breaches. They can only enforce when they consider it ‘expedient’ to do, which means the planning harm and public interest require it.

This has always been the case and developers are well aware there is a margin where breaches will be tolerated… anyone impacted (overlooking, loss of privacy etc) could perhaps complain to the ombudsman that failing to enforce is unreasonable but even if the ombudsman agrees, they are pretty toothless to require action.