Homeowner forced to demolish 'monster mansion' after three-year planning row with neighbours

A homeowner who built what has been dubbed a 'monster mansion' without planning permission has now began knocking it down after losing a three-year long battle with his neighbours. Gurwinder Singh bulldozed his modest semi-detached house in the West Midlands back in 2020, and illegally replaced it with a £300,000 four-bedroom property.

But after more than 95 complaints from local residents in the area, he was ordered by Walsall Council to tear down the half-built home. Neighbours complained that the building work had made their 'lives hell', while others described the 'eyesore' as 'like a Travelodge in the middle of a housing estate'.

Mr Singh, who works as a delivery driver, appealed to the Planning Inspectorate - but the council dismissed the appeal and upheld the original enforcement notice in July. He was also threatened with court action if he failed to comply with the enforcement notice by April next year.

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Mr Singh has now finally begun to demolish the building, with the first floor now having been turn down - much to the delight of surrounding residents in Sandringham Avenue.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's about time - this has been going on for way too long and we just hope he sees it through now.

"We always said he'd never get away with it but as time went on you did wonder. It's been hell living next to a construction site and half-built shell for three years. We just hope he rips the rest of it down and doesn't leave another mess. We'll be relieved when it's all done and dusted."

Another resident said