Disabled pensioner who paved over grass verge to build £2.2K driveway to his home is ordered to rip it up after it was built without planning permission

By AIDAN RADNEDGE, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:45, 17 August 2026 | Updated: 15:47, 17 August 2026 A disabled pensioner has been told to tear up a £2,200 driveway he built over a grass verge outside his home after lacking planning permission.  David Siggins, 85, says he has been left close to a breakdown over the dispute after paving over a green area outside his home in Rochford, Essex. He wanted to make access easier due to his struggles with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mr Siggins claimed he had been given the go-ahead by Rochford Council two years ago for his £2,200 driveway that measures 3m wide by 5m long. But earlier this month, he was told the land belongs to the local authority and must be restored. Mr Siggins, who relies on two crutches to get around, insisted he tried to follow the correct process before carrying out the work and is seeking legal advice. The former tiler, who has lived in the property for 42 years, said: 'This has made me quite ill. I'm quite close to a breakdown. 'I cannot walk, that's the problem. I use two crutches. It just seems so unfair. It looks nice - it certainly looks better than the grass. David Siggins, 85, says he has been left close to a breakdown over the dispute after paving over a green area outside his home in Rochford, Essex Mr Siggins has been told to tear up a £2,200 driveway he built over a grass verge outside his home after lacking planning permission 'Two years ago I was told they didn't own the land so I could do what I wanted with it. I did try.' Mr Siggins said the debacle goes back 20 years, when he was given permission by Essex Highways for a dropped kerb. He claimed that three months after work had completed, he was told by Rochford Council they wanted the kerb reinstated and he was paid for the inconvenience. And in 2024, he contacted Essex County Council about the verge with his plans for a driveway – but said he was told the land was not under its control. Mr Siggins said: 'I spoke to a very nice planning officer at Rochford Council who advised me to speak to Essex Highways. They told me it wasn't anything to do with them. 'I went back to Rochford Council and I was told they definitely didn't own it so I should go ahead. I have it in writing it was confirmed we could do it.' However, a subsequent planning application was refused and an appeal was later dismissed – with Mr Siggins saying he had no knowledge of either. A deadline now looms at the end of this month after Mr Siggins received notice a few weeks ago that the driveway had to be removed.  Mr Siggins, a former tiler, has lived in the property in Rochford for 42 years Mr Siggins claimed he had been given the go-ahead by Rochford Council two years ago for his £2,200 driveway that measures 3m wide by 5m long Mr Siggins, who lives with his partner and stepson, said: 'It is very stressful. It's getting me down. 'I've not had any complaints. The close we live in has 13 houses and there are 31 vehicles. 'They're all really relieved I've got [the driveway] as I can get my cars off the road as there's more space. I've got a solicitor involved.' Mr Siggins added that the grass verge had largely been maintained by him and his stepson over the years and noted that council workers have only recently begun regularly cutting it since the dispute arose. Rochford Council said the issue centres on ownership of the land and its status as public open space. A council spokesman said: 'The resident removed a grass verge owned by Rochford District Council to install a block-paved driveway. The council has received a number of complaints. 'The grass verge forms part of a larger title that is subject to restrictions due to its designation as public open space. 'A planning application for the work that was previously submitted by the resident had been refused and an appeal dismissed.' The authority said Mr Siggins has been given until the end of August to consider how he wishes to proceed.