Why were Hannah Edwards and Elzan Seraj ordered to demolish their garden annexe?

They were ordered to demolish the three-bedroom garden annexe because they did not obtain the correct planning permission, and their retrospective application was refused due to its bulky design and negative impact on the area's character and neighbours' privacy.

What was the original plan for the garage at the Milton Keynes home?

The original plan approved was to convert the single-storey garage into a small one-bedroom annexe, but it was later expanded into a three-bedroom dwelling.

What were the council's reasons for refusing the annexe's planning permission?

The council cited that the flat-roofed dormer was 'bulky and excessive', that the scale and design harmed the character of the area, and that raised windows and a Juliet balcony eroded neighbours' privacy.

Home / Crime and Justice / Garden Annexe Ordered Demolished After Planning Fiasco

Garden Annexe Ordered Demolished After Planning Fiasco

24 Jan

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Summary

Couple ordered to demolish three-bedroom garden annexe.
Retrospective planning application was refused in 2021.
Development caused harm to area character and neighbours' privacy.

Garden Annexe Ordered Demolished After Planning Fiasco

A Milton Keynes couple must demolish a three-bedroom garden annexe they built for the husband's parents after losing a final appeal. Hannah Edwards, 35, and Elzan Seraj, 45, converted a detached garage into a three-bedroom dwelling with a loft conversion and balcony.

Milton Keynes Council refused their retrospective planning application in 2021, later issuing an enforcement notice in June 2024. Planners deemed the dormer 'bulky and excessive,' stating the building's scale and design harmed the area's character and eroded neighbours' privacy.

The couple expressed shock, claiming they were unaware of the demolition order and that their architect was handling the planning. They had argued the ground floor offered step-free access for elderly relatives and additional rooms for guests.