Family’s £200k bill for new roof as house is 2.5ft too tall
A FAMILY whose home could be demolished because it is 2.5ft too tall say they may have to spend £200,000 on a replacement roof.
Asif Naseem is facing the bill after councillors threw out two retrospective planning applications for his new home.
It comes as planners complained that there are dormer windows in the eaves and the roof ridge is too high.
Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s planning committee has given Mr Naseem a three-month delay to allow talks to continue over the property’s fate.
The father-of-five has already spent more than £500,000 building the property since plans for the development were approved in 2016.
He brought a petition to yesterday’s planning meeting, urging the council not to order the demolition of the house.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr Naseem’s brother Shazad said: ‘If they take the roof off it will cost £200,000. But we have spent all the money on the house. Where do we find £200,000?
‘If they take the building down by 2.5ft it isn’t going to make any visual difference. How are you going to see that from ground level?’
The council received 31 objections to the retrospective planning applications and seven letters in support. Council planners recommended taking enforcement action which would lead to the house being knocked down.
Vice- chairman Andy Platt said demolishing the house would be ‘a little over the top’.
But Councillor Janine Bridges said: ‘This will set a precedent. It will allow developers to go out there, build what they like and say, “I would like retrospective planning permission”.’