Homeowner given date to demolish 40ft outbuilding at £800k home after council fears illegal second dwelling

An electrical contractor has been ordered to tear down a 40ft-long outbuilding constructed without planning permission in the garden of his £800,000 home.

Osman Osman from Wexham, Buckinghamshire, must demolish the structure by October 1 this year or face further enforcement action from Buckinghamshire Council.

The property sits within protected Green Belt land, with council officials fearing the building could be converted into a separate residential dwelling.

Mr Osman has branded the decision "unfair", insisting authorities acted on a "misguided belief" the outbuilding possessed "its own garden area" and "could readily form a self-contained residential unit".

Work on the structure began some four years ago, though enforcement proceedings were only launched in February following the installation of roof tiles.

The homeowner insists the building was designed purely for practical purposes, with one side intended for storing electrical tools and the other serving as a home office.

"It is not for residential purposes. I wouldn't want anybody living in the back of my garden," Mr Osman told the Daily Mail.

Homeowners are typically permitted to build on up to 50 per cent of their garden space, though authorities maintain stricter rules apply to Green Belt areas.

Mr Osman believes planning officers misinterpreted fencing erected around the site, which he says was installed to prevent his grandchildren from accessing the construction area.

"When they saw it was all fenced off, they thought that it was going to be a new house," he explained.

The council's enforcement notice stated the outbuilding was "not considered subordinate to the main dwelling as a result of the size and location".

Officials further noted the structure appeared to have its own separate access point and a distinct garden area cordoned off from the home.

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"Accordingly, the outbuilding fails to present as a subordinate element, presenting a clear conflict with local policies, which place significance on the location of the building and its relationship with the host dwelling," the notice read.

The council concluded the development had "an adverse impact to the significance of the character and appearance of the host dwelling and wider locality".

Mr Osman was absent during the inspection visit, and claims he was unable to provide "the full story" to officers at the time.

One neighbour, speaking anonymously, described the structure as "disproportionate in size", echoing the council's fears of impacting the character of the neighbourhood.

Another local complained about the disruption caused by construction vehicles, with building work on the road and "trucks coming up and down".

A third neighbour said: "We are far from happy about it. You can see it down the side from the road."

Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire Council's Deputy Leader and councillor for planning, confirmed the enforcement notice was issued on February 18 following the refusal of planning permission.

The deadline for an appeal passed on April 1, which Mr Osman missed - though a second planning application remains under consideration by the authority.