A HOMEOWNER who refused to stick to planning rules will have to pay over £4,000 after being taken to court.

Bradford Council has successfully prosecuted Taz Uddin - who repeatedly refused to cooperate and comply with planning enforcement actions relating to dormer windows on a house, 20 Grange Grove, Riddlesden.

Despite being granted planning permission for dormer windows on the property in 2016 - they were not constructed in accordance with the approved plans and attached conditions.  

Grange Grove is a cul-de-sac of semi detached homes between the River Aire and the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

The front and rear windows were built much larger using different materials than the plans agreed by Bradford Council’s planning committee. 

Following complaints from residents and investigations in 2017, the Council’s Planning Enforcement Team advised Mr Uddin, that the dormer windows would have to be rebuilt to the specification as shown on the approved plans. 

The Council says it attempted "on numerous occasions" to work with Mr Uddin but that he refused to cooperate so the authority served several enforcement notices. 

Planning enforcement process can take up to five years - councillors told

The enforcement notice called for the dormer windows to be demolished and re-built in a way that matched the approved plans.

These were repeatedly ignored so the Council took him to court in June. 

At the hearing, Mr Uddin pleaded not guilty and the trial was set for September 3.  

At trial, Mr Uddin changed his plea to guilty and was fined £2,000 and charged £2,275 in costs by the courts. 

The unauthorised dormer windows remain unchanged and Bradford Council says its planning enforcement file will not be closed until the breach is resolved. 

Mr Uddin has indicated remedial works will be carried out on the house in November. 

After the fine was issued Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “It is important housing renovations are built to agreed designs. Failure to do this undermines the planning system. 

“We work with homeowners and do everything we can to help people adhere to the law, however, failing to comply with planning enforcement is a criminal offence and the Council will take firm action against home owners who break the law.” 

Last Summer members of Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee were told of the lengthy bureaucratic procedures needed to force people to stick to planning laws.

They were told that because people have the right to re-submit applications, and appeal Council decisions, enforcement cases can sometimes take up to five years to get to court.