'Selfish' homeowner is ordered to tear down £180,000 bungalow after claiming it was built to be a gaming room

Published: 00:29, 28 April 2026 | Updated: 00:44, 28 April 2026 A homeowner has been ordered to demolish the £180,000 bungalow he built in his back garden because he failed to get planning permission three times.  Mark Jones, 55, replaced his garage with a two-bedroom, one bathroom, 'granny flat', fit with electricity, water and Wi-Fi, in March 2019. However, Mr Jones did not apply for planning permission, arguing that he 'thought it was fine' due to the building's size. Despite submitting a retrospective planning application, in 2021, Birmingham City Council said that the 'alien' building must be removed. In response, he submitted a second application and was once again ordered to demolish the bungalow by the end of June 2025.   But, in a desperate final attempt he applied for a last-ditch certificate of lawfulness, claiming it would be used as an outbuilding with a gym, gaming room and office.  It was once again refused and six years after building the structure, Mr Jones must now knock it down. Neighbours delighted in Mr Jones' downfall branding him as a selfish and inconsiderate.  Pictured: a Google street view of Mr Jones' bungalow in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands Mark Jones (pictured), 55, has been ordered to tear down an £180,000 garden bungalow he built without planning permission 'There shouldn't be one rule for them and a different one for others,' Barbara told the Daily Mail. 'I could have built a house for my son in the back garden.' 'Morally you should have planning permission, it's not right. We all have to follow the rules and people should be considerate of their neighbours.' Another resident, who chose to remain anonymous, added: 'Good. I say that because the went outside the realms of planning.' Birmingham City Council's initial objection to the bungalow came after several neighbours submitted complaints about its 'over-intensive' size. Other complaints included concerns over parking, privacy for neighbours and light coming from the new bungalow. However, Mr Jones argued that the council were 'bullying him' over the saga. Last year, the father-of-two said: 'You look at other houses on the street and I can't see why we wouldn't get permission for it. For an area with a housing shortage, it's ridiculous. 'Loads of people have done this. If I tear it down I've got nowhere else to go so I'll probably be on the streets.' The white-washed bungalow features its own gravel drive and patio seating area. Its water and electrics are connected to the main house, a three-bedroom property worth around £355,000 Birmingham City Council's initial objection to the bungalow came after several neighbours submitted complaints about its 'over-intensive' size The IT engineer had initially hoped his unwell father, Tony, 71, would live in the property in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. However, Tony died of bowel cancer just a few months later and Mr Jones then moved into the bungalow after he and his wife divorced. Some neighbours did sympathise with Mr Jones.  Jane Kelly told the Daily Mail: 'It doesn't bother me, it's never been a problem. I'm on the back and they don't bother me at all, I never hear them.' Another neighbour added: ' I don't understand why it's a problem, it's more than ridiculous.  'I don't even understand the why the council care, with all that's going on the world and we're going to bother about that it's mad.' The white-washed building features its own gravel drive and patio seating area. Its water and electrics are connected to the main house, a three-bedroom property worth around £355,000.  Arguing that the bungalow was 'never meant to be a separate building', Mr Jones said: 'It doesn't have its own water, internet, council tax or waste. It is still part of the main house.  'I should have waited for planning permission but people can see why I haven't. 'I was in a hurry to get my dad moved in. When you look at Google maps and see all the buildings in the gardens, you can see why I thought it was safe.' 'From the street or a neighbour’s garden, you wouldn’t see anything. You can’t see into windows. There was a garage there before.' Birmingham City Council have been contacted for comment.   No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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