When A Couple Sneakily Built A House On Their Drive

At the top of a driveway, there is almost always some form of garage designed to help store and protect the car during frosty and rainy weather, as well as sometimes having a small amount of space for storage or to set up a small workshop.

However, one couple in Birmingham decided after getting approval to build a garage to see if they could extend that permission a little further and build an entire two-floor mini house on his land, sparking a years-long dispute that has continued to this day.

The issues started in 2019, and according to an unnamed neighbour, was initially built for an elderly relative alongside a complete repaving of the drive, before allegedly being converted into a gym in 2020.

In 2022, a planning inspector investigated the property and found, unsurprisingly given the lack of a garage door, that the plans had changed substantially since the approval was given in 2019.

It was larger, had several windows, a second floor complete with roof box extension and absolutely no functionality as a garage at all. This led Birmingham City Council to serve an enforcement notice demanding the building be destroyed and the rubble removed from the property.

The family have since stood their ground when asked about the driveway mini-house, saying that they have no intention of demolishing it unless the council directly get in touch with them.

They claimed that it was initially a garage and the changes were the result of a conversion project in 2020 when people were travelling less and there was little need for a garage.

They argued that the neighbours have not complained, which has been corroborated by neighbours saying that they assumed they had permission for the mini house although expressing shock that they thought they could get away with it.

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