"My Neighbor's Giant Extension Feels Like a Stadium Box – Here's How I'm Making Him Take It Down!"

A BUSINESSMAN has been ordered to tear down an extension on his family home which neighbours likened to a “football director’s box”.

Neighbours called Mani Singh’s 3m (9ft) high grey dormer on the rear of his £415,000 property an “ugly eyesore”.

Neighbours Kath Tandy and Liz Deakin in Kath’s garden that’s ruined by the structure Credit: Emma Trimble / SWNS Neighbour Liz Deakin said Mani Singh’s 3m (9ft) extension is “very intrusive” Credit: Emma Trimble / SWNS

The dad-of-two built the large extension on the back of his three bed semi without planning permission.

Residents living near the house in Lowlands Avenue, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, West Mids., complained the building blocked light and ruined the appearance of the area.

Mr Singh, who moved into the smart corner plot home in 2024, applied for retrospective planning permission after the council were alerted by worried neighbours.

Locals complained the huge structure – comprising of a dormer, loft conversion and skylights – was ruining the character of the neighbourhood.

The brick extension is a huge eyesore visible from neighbour Kath’s living room Credit: Emma Trimble / SWNS The dormer has been likened to a football football director’s box Credit: Alamy Mr Singh built the extension without planning permission and had to apply for retrospective permission when the council were alerted Credit: Emma Trimble / SWNS The extension is blocking natural light into resident’s gardens Credit: Liz Deakin / SWNS

Liz Deakin, 63, who has lived on the street for 35 years, said: “The building is actually very large and is affecting people nearby.

“It blocks light into nearby houses and looks directly down into gardens and into properties so it’s very intrusive.

“It reminds me of a director’s box you see at big stadiums. Not at all appropriate for a quiet suburban area like this.

“Initially Mr Singh applied for planning permission for this but was turned down.

“He then applied for permission for a much smaller structure which was approved but then he built this first option anyway.”

Determined to tell the council how they felt about the dormer, residents hired a minibus to attend last week’s council meeting.

Liz added: “We all went down and I spoke to the council about the problems we have with this large extension.

“Thankfully the council agreed with us and after the meeting we went to the pub and had a chat about it all.”

Liz’s neighbour Cath Tandy, 75, moved into her home in 1985 with her husband Charlie, who later passed away in 2000.

The grandmother-of-two, who works part-time as a hairdresser, said: “I live at the back of the house and before you could see the pitched garage roof at the back of the garden.

“I never had a problem with that but now all you can see is a huge wall. It’s a bit like being in a exercise yard.

“His argument is that other houses nearby have dormers without planning permission but those houses back onto fields.

“I used to have lots of sun light coming into my garden in the evenings but the extension has blocked all that so it’s dark most of the time.”

When the dormer was completed, residents complained to the council and Mr Singh was advised to apply for retrospective planning permission.

A planning officer initially recommended it be approved but last week Walsall Council – the planning authority for Streetly – turned it down.

The council said the dormer was “incongruous” with the area and broke planning laws.

Mr Singh now has six months to demolish the dormer or appeal the decision.

Mr Singh has been approached for comment.

A council spokesperson said: “Walsall Council’s planning committee refused the application for 40 Lowlands Avenue at a meeting on 23 April 2026 due to concerns about its detrimental impact on neighbouring properties and past refusals.

“The applicant is within their right to appeal the decision.”