We’re living next to a rat-infested eyesore after ‘extension’ was left as a pile of rubble – the council is to blame
RESIDENTS of a suburban road say they are living with an eyesore after the council waved through a grand extension to a neighbouring property, only for it to be abandoned.
Locals of Shirley, Birmingham, say the house takes everyone’s breath away with its ornate two-storey porch looming over a wasteland of rubble.
Worse still, the back garden, untouched in over a year, has become so overgrown that it is fast turning into a wildlife park with neighbours reporting up to eight foxes at a time cavorting over the fences.
Julie Carton, 59, who lives next door told The Sun Online: “It really has been one thing after another.”
“It used to be owned by a builder and his wife before they both died. He kept it in a lovely condition. He’d been heartbroken to see it now.”
The plan to extend the standard, four-bedroomed detached house into a grand, seven-bedroom, five-bathroom super home, was approved by planners in Solihull in May 2021.
Many in the neighbourhood thought the plans were “out of keeping” and “unsightly” but they had no idea of the disruption that would follow.
As the builders set to work, two of the pine trees surrounding the property caught fire, while the arrival of 38 steel girders prompted part of the pavement to crumble.
After the works came to an abrupt halt due to the new owners’ financial problems, the place was ransacked for its piping, causing a flood.
Carole Harvey, 73, who lives a few doors down with her husband Martin, 71, said: “I think it is dreadful.
“The Council just pass these things but they don’t come out and look and see the harm caused.”
“This road never gets swept because it is like a car park every day and a seven-bedroom house is bound to cause more parking problems.”
Martin added that the development had “caused no end of problems.”
And he slammed the council for doing “nothing” to prevent the chaos.
The couple are mystified by how the planning committee approved such a development.
Mrs Carton said: “When I had an extension done to our house, they were so fussy about using matching bricks but now this has been built up with breezeblocks.
“If it ever gets finished it will look like no other house on the street.
“When the development started, the noise was dreadful.
“During the winter the workmen burned fires in the back garden which was awful but we were told there was nothing that could be done.”
Now the property is up for auction but its reserve price of £550,000 has astounded neighbours.
One 75-year-old, who lives opposite, said: “I can’t see them getting it. You would need to spend another £250,000 to sort it out. Nothing is complete. The roof is on but that’s about it. It needs five bathrooms and a kitchen fitted.
“They say it will be worth a million pounds when it is done but no house on this road could be worth a million. It’s a nice area but not that nice.
“Honestly think it will be made into flats or be some sort of multiple occupancy and then where are they all going to park?”
Meanwhile, chartered surveyor, Imran Anwar, 46, whose own home looks out on the property, said: “It was meant to be the most spectacular house and it has ended up as an eyesore.
“Whoever bought it will have made a loss which is a shame for them.
“The best scenario would be for a developer to buy it, complete it and live in it.”
Residents have even complained of a rat infestation blighting the area as the flooding and debris attracted “vermin”.
The home will go under the hammer on Thursday.
Solihull Council has been contacted for comment.