Council approves retrospective plans for Walsall home renovation after enforcement notice ‘ignored’
Retrospective plans for a home renovation in Walsall have been approved, despite fury from nearby residents.
Neighbours of 135 Skip Lane say they have lost their privacy after recent works strayed from original approved plans, and claimed enforcement notices were ‘ignored’.
In 2021, Walsall Council gave permission for an extension to number 135, but in June 2024, the authority issued a Breach of Condition Notice (BCN) when the work failed to comply with ten aspects of the original plans.
The BCN ordered the homeowner to demolish all works that did not comply with the approved plans within four months, but neighbours claim the notice was ‘ignored’.
In December 2024, the council’s enforcement team wrote to the homeowner outlining four actions which should be carried out to ‘mitigate planning harm’.
But the neighbours said the wording was open to interpretation and even if they were actioned, it would not have reinstated their privacy.
Earlier this summer, applicant Khuram Javed submitted a retrospective planning application to get the works approved, which faced several objections from residents on Skip Lane.
Walsall Council said all the representations were taken into consideration, but the applicant was deemed to have mitigated any harm and the authority approved it.
One of the neighbours, Rita Garbett, said: “What is the point of submitting a planning application if you can do as you please, breach the plans and conditions and then submit retrospective plans?”
Rita and neighbour Sarbjeet Padda have approached the ombudsman over the council’s handling of the case.
A spokesperson from Walsall Council said: “We remain committed to taking action on the most harmful breaches of planning in Walsall.
“We assessed the submitted planning application based on the remedial work carried out on the areas of non-compliance that had been considered harmful.
“All representations made by residents were taken into consideration in the assessment of the planning application along with an assessment of any amenity impacts in accordance with local and national planning policy and guidance.
“The application was considered to have successfully mitigated the harm and was approved on August 19, 2025.”
