A man has been hit with a four figure fine for flouting planning regulations following a Hillingdon Council investigation.

Diarmuid Martin O'Donovan pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on 6 March and was fined £4,500, ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and court costs of £500.

The fine follows his failure to remove two side dormer extensions from the roof of his home in 34 Parkfield Road, Ickenham.

At the hearing the court heard how O'Donovan began building an extension without being granted the correct planning permission for the two dormer windows.


On 25 July, 2008 a planning enforcement notice was issued by the council requiring the windows to be removed as well as any building materials, debris, timber, rubble, roofing resulting from their demolition.

However O'Donovan failed to take them down and submitted a number of retrospective applications to the council, all of which were refused. On 30 December 2011, a final appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against the council's decision to not grant planning permission was also refused.

As a result of O'Donovan not removing the windows within the period stipulated in the enforcement notice, the council launched court proceedings.

Cabinet member for Planning, Transportation, and Recycling, Cllr Keith Burrows, said: "This kind of flagrant disregard for planning regulations will not be tolerated by Hillingdon Council. Those who undergo building work without the correct permission are being unfair to their neighbours as well as breaking the law and should be aware that they may face court action."

(CD/GK)