Council ‘too slow’ to halt blight of box extensions Rogue developers destroying student neighbourhood – MP
ABIRMINGHAM MP has accused the council of taking too long to deal with rogue developers who have blighted a Birmingham suburb with over-extended student homes.
Selly Oak’s Labour MP Steve McCabe said three years to enforce action to halt stacked extensions and unauthorised developments in his constituency was too long.
But the council said it had moved as fast as the legal process would allow and warned that homeowners who failed to comply with planning regulations would be prosecuted.
As well as taking on the ‘rogue landlords’ and ‘ cowboy builders’ on his patch, Mr McCabe has also taken another step towards tightening the laws around such development with his own Protection of Family Homes Bill heading for a second reading in Parliament in October.
Residents, councillors and the MP have been campaigning to stop more family homes being snapped up by landlords and converted into student housing – with unsightly extensions added onto rear gardens to cram even more students in. Some have compared the unsightly extensions to third world shanty towns.
Mr McCabe has visited a number of the affected neighbours whose homes are wedged between these ‘imposing hostels’ losing their light and privacy.
He said enforcement notices were served on developer Britannia Property Group in 2014, but residents had seen no real action. He believes this has encouraged other landlords to follow suit.
Mr McCabe said: “Residents in Selly Oak will be dealing with rubbish in the streets, obstructions, rows and rows of skips and more unsightly extensions this summer because of the consistent failure to take enforcement action against rogue developers.
“For the past three years, I have pushed the council’s planning department to take action but developers continue to get away with what they want, ruining communities and neighbourhoods. How many more years do we have to wait?”
Mr McCabe told how he had to queue outside the House of Commons clerk’s office through the night to ensure he was one of the first in the queue to get his Private Members Bill a slot in the Parliamentary timetable. The proposed law has already received support from MPs of all parties whose constituencies have been blighted by similar aggressive development.
He said: “I’m determined to get my Bill into law which is why I stayed up all night to secure a slot for my Protection of Family Homes Bill.
“It isn’t easy getting a Bill off the ground as a backbench opposition MP, but I will certainly do everything I can to put an end to this madness which is destroying family homes and creating misery for local residents.”
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said that action was ongoing.
He said: “The council is committed to taking the necessary enforcement action against unauthorised developments.
“Enforcement notices have already been served on a number of properties in Gristhorpe Road requiring their unauthorised use as houses in multiple occupation to cease and the demolition of certain works.
“These notices were put on hold pending appeals but have subsequently been upheld and planning officers are now in discussions with the owners to ensure they comply with these legal notices. Failure to do so could result in prosecution.”
I will certainly do everything I can to put an end to this madness which is destroying family homes and creating misery for local residents