Owners of the ‘Travelodge Monster Mansion’ that had to be demolished now say they will build another house in its place
THE owners of a house dubbed a ‘monster house’ by neighbors and bulldozed on council orders have vowed to build a new THIRD house in its place.
Heartbroken Gurwinder Singh and his wife Rajwinder Kaur are devastated after losing their savings and their lives. West Central., house reduced to rubble.
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The pair were ordered to demolish the four-bed in Willenhall after becoming embroiled in a nasty three-year planning war with the council.
Locals were previously furious that the construction work had made their ‘lives hell’ while others describe the “eyesore” as “like a Travelodge in the middle of a residential area”.
After more than 95 complaints Mr Singh was ordered to demolish the half-finished housestarted in 2020, by Walsall Council.
Now the couple claim the demolition has cost them £37,000 in savings, while a further £40,000 has been awarded to a neighbor for damaging their home.
But the determined couple insist they already have plans to rebuild the house.
In an initial interview with The Sun Online, Rajwinder said: “We are so saddened and depressed by what has happened.
When the family moved in, I thought ‘they’re going to be really nice neighbors’, until they destroyed my house!”
Smoking neighbor
“We were never at fault, it was our builders who made some mistakes and we did our best to put things right, at great cost to us, both financially and emotionally.
“It was going to be our forever home for our girls and now it has been razed to the ground.
“It was a terrible sight to see. It is gone now, there is still rubble, but it will be removed.”
The distraught mother, 43, shrugged off comments from furious residents and said: “It was our new house and we weren’t even allowed to live in it.”
She told how the family, who now rent a small house in nearby Walsall, plan to keep the plot of land and build a new house – this time with planning permission.
Rajwinder added: “Hopefully I’ll be third time lucky! We have family in India who can send us money to make this possible, and of course if the municipality allows it.
“But it’s all way too early and we haven’t even thought about the type of house we would go for again.”
The family had their original smaller home demolished to begin construction of the “Travelodge” house.
Rajwinder continued: “It is still our land and we must again use it wisely.”
“Our family is so upset about what happened. We are all depressed, even our daughters, and my husband is trying his best to keep up with his work commitments,” she continued.
“Our neighbors take it very personally, maybe they are jealous.”
ANGRY NEIGHBORS
Neighbors claimed ongoing works on their quiet Sandringham Avenue street were making their “lives hell”.
There are now mixed reactions to the demolition, which is due to be completed within five weeks on April 7.
Some worry about what “might be next,” while others are relieved to see the “eyesore” disappear.
A pensioner who lived in the neighboring house said: “When the family moved in I thought ‘they’re going to be really nice neighbours’, until they destroyed my house!
“All I want is for my house to be properly repaired, and I’m still waiting, and then I can move on with the rest of my life.”
The 77-year-old OAP, who did not want to be named, said: “I have lived here for 50 years and the last three have been terrible with everything going on next door and an eyesore.”
It was all very stressful, I spent my savings on this house for my family and we never even lived there.”
Gurwinder Singh
Speaking exclusively to our website, the hospital’s retired pediatric nurse said: “The main building has been demolished, but there is still a lot of rubble, beams and roof tiles, and there is still boarding all around the property.”
She told how her attached semi was damaged by the illegal construction, and despite the couple paying compensation, the chimney and exterior wall still needed repairs.
The elderly woman, who was advised to move temporarily when construction encroached on her property, said: “I was told to go but I refused because I didn’t want squatters moving in.
She added defiantly: ‘Why should I move, I haven’t done anything wrong! My house is now unsellable due to the condition it was left in.
What are your rights?
Building Permit Guidelines according to gov.uk
If you want to build something new, make a major change to your building or change the purpose of your building, for example if you want to start a business, you will need a building permit.
To find out if you need a building permit, please contact your Local Planning Authority through your municipality.
If the building permit is refused, you can do so appeal.
You can appeal if you are refused planning permission for reasons you believe are contrary to the LPA’s development plan or planning policy (these can usually be found on their website).
You can also appeal if you have received a building permit with conditions to which you object. You must explain why you think they are unnecessary, unenforceable, vague, unreasonable or irrelevant.
Another reason for an appeal is if the LPA has not given you a decision on your application and eight weeks have passed since the date they told you they received the application (or if any other time period that you agreed with them has passed agreed).
“I don’t want to bad mouth the couple, but I think they have been incredibly foolish and greedy.”
Rajwinder said she and her husband, a DPP delivery driver, also 43, had paid £18,000 to her neighbor to cover the cost of repairs to her wall and roof, plus £16,000 in her lawyers’ fees plus a further £6,000 in costs.
She said: “We have paid £40,000 to the neighbors and around £35,000 in demolition costs and our neighbors are still concerned.
“We accept that our builders made a mistake, but it was not our fault. We have no idea about the construction and the neighbor threatened to take us to court.
“We have paid all our savings to builders, neighbors and lawyers.”
HORROR WRECK
Recalling the trauma of the unauthorized construction, the lonely pensioner said: “They put a steel RSJ beam through my bedroom window while I was sitting on my bed. There were holes in my wall and at baseboard level to two other rooms.
“The plaster in my living room was cracked.
“They demolished an entire semi-detached house and rebuilt a new, larger house.
“They should have stopped when we started complaining, but they didn’t want to listen and I blame them for that.
“The planning authority should also have opted out, but initially made no effort to do so.”
While the woman doesn’t mind if the family rebuilds, she urged them to “comply with proper building codes” and “seek professional builders.”
‘MONSTER MANSION’
Another neighbour, retired builder Pat, told The Sun Online: “We all have mixed feelings about the property we call the monster house.
“It’s a shame to tear down a building, but they broke the rules.
“One or two other buildings in the area have been expanded to about the same size without any problem, but in this case they demolished a house and rebuilt it with no real guidelines.”
Pat, 74, who did not want to be named, added: “Demolishing a house and leaving a plot empty is a bit crazy.
“If they still want a house, go for it, but they have to apply for a building permit and find good builders.”
Pat added that the council should also come under fire for not carrying out the correct checks.
BITTER BATTLE
Gurwinder had never applied for planning permission to demolish his original 1960s home in 2020.
The homeowner had recently received the green light for a side extension to the existing building.
Countdown to demolition
- Gurwinder Singh and his wife Rajwinder Kaur receive planning permission from Walsall Council for a side extension to their 1960s home.
- The couple will start building a four-bedroom house in 2020 – without planning permission.
- Anger arises among neighbors after construction halted and an eyesore was left behind.
- The unfinished house has been dubbed the ‘Monster Mansion’ and compared to a Travelodge.
- After 95 complaints, Walsall Council orders Gurwinder Singh to demolish the property.
- They are given an injunction that must be completed within five weeks on April 7.
- The couple reveal the demolition cost them £37,000 in savings.
- A further £40,000 was awarded to a neighbor for damaging his home.
- Gurwinder Singh and Rajwinder Kaur promise to rebuild their house with a building permit if they have enough money.
At the time, neighbors called it a “monstrosity” and an “eyesore” and “looks like a Travelodge in the middle of a residential area.”
They also grumbled that it was ‘absolute hell’ living next to the noisy construction site.
Gurwinder refused to tear it down for months, pleading with the council to “find a solution,” but eventually conceded that “people power” had been defeated.
The Punjabi-speaking homeowner claimed he was victimized and “abused” because of his nationality and poor knowledge of the English language.
He previously told The Sun Online: “Neighbors have been dishonest about the house, calling them is a monstrosity and I have no reason why.
“It was all very stressful. I spent my entire savings on this house for my family and we never even lived there.
“We feel let down by the system. It’s a planning nightmare.”
The family rent a three-bedroom semi in a nearby West Midlands suburb for £800 a month.
A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “We are aware that the owner has commenced demolition works and are continuing to monitor in accordance with the enforcement notice. The owner carries out the work himself at this stage.”
“The council is monitoring the situation to ensure all actions in the enforcement notice are complied with.”
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