Ealing Council remove illegal buildings housing six

Two buildings used as 'beds in sheds' for six people in Southall have been demolished

The two flats in one outbuilding; at 119 and 119a Greenland Crescent were both built without planning permission and the council had ordered their removal in October 2013.

Despite this the owner continued to let the buildings out as two self-contained flats, housing three people in each.

The council say the size and layout of the flats and the lack of external space for the occupiers made them substandard as living accommodation. The flats also directly overlooked neighbouring properties and it was claimed noise and nuisance from the tenants’ comings and goings was causing a great deal of disturbance to householders in neighbouring properties.

In April this year, the owner appealed to and was rejected by the Planning Inspectorate to have the council’s enforcement notice lifted. Following this failed appeal, the owner was then given until 22 July to remove their tenants and demolish the two buildings.

However, when Ealing Council’s outhouses team revisited Greenland Crescent on 27 August, they discovered the buildings were still there and appeared to have occupants; a final notice was then issued, telling the owner that the council would step in and demolish both.

Ealing Council’s leader, Julian Bell, who also has responsibility for planning said:

“I’m really pleased for the people living nearby 119 Greenland Crescent that these two buildings have been taken down. Quite rightly, we mainly focus on the safety aspects of housing tenants in accommodation that doesn’t have planning permission but people often forget how distressing it is to have one next door to where you live too.

“Planning laws and the housing act are in place to stop unlawful, dangerous structures being put up randomly and to protect neighbourhoods, as well as tenants. If necessary, Ealing Council will use these powers to take drastic action and demolish them if unscrupulous landlords refuse to cooperate.”

If you would like to report an occupied outbuilding, telephone 020 8825 8786 or email the details to outhouses@ealing.gov.uk. You can also report an illegal outhouse on the council website at www.ealing.gov.uk/reportit.

12th November 2014