Mohammed Azhar, 57, built the stone extension for his parents in 2011 as they struggled to go upstairs to use the bathroom but was ordered to take it down, sparking a long fight to keep it
A homeowner who built an extension so his parents did not have to go upstairs to use the facilities was ordered to tear down the £8,000 build, after a 13 year campaign.
Mohammed Azhar, 57, built the 13ft addition to his terraced house in 2011 but was shocked when he was ordered to take it down by Bradford Council, who refused retrospective planning consent a year later. He refused and a stalemate went on for years before the authority took enforcement action in 2022.
In February last year, Mr Afzar was taken to court and fined after being charged with failing to comply with an enforcement notice. He was given an ultimatum to raze the structure – which finally came down last week.
He pleaded guilty at Bradford magistrates’ court in January 2024 for failing to comply with the enforcement notice. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £800 towards council costs.
Jabran Hussain, defending, told the court: “His parents have since passed away, and he has been hit with problems of his own that have given him serious mobility issues. He now understands the only way forward is to comply with the enforcement notice.
“Within two months this extension will be demolished at great expense. A new application will then be submitted to build something the council will be happy with. He lives a law abiding life, this was something he did for his parents.”
Speaking last year Mr Afzar said: “There was a garage here and we turned it into a toilet and shower room. It was to help my parents who had to live with us because of their health.
“They couldn’t get up the stairs to use the toilet and I just wanted to look after them. It’s not like I’ve built a massive extension to benefit me, or to make money out of.
“It was just to help my family. I didn’t go to the council and beg them for help, I just got on with it and sorted it out myself. I was just trying to do the right thing for my family.”
Mr Azhar has now removed the rear extension, which he says has cost him £4,000 to tear down. He carried out the work last week.
Bradford Council argued the shower room extension was added on to an existing 9.8ft kitchen extension. It argued Mr Azhar’s work effectively extended the property by 23ft and had an ‘overbearing impact’ on neighbours.
Bradford Council has been approached for comment by the Mirror.
