Newham Council previously asked developer to demolish the structure, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter

The unauthorised building at 316A Romford Road

A developer is seeking planning permission for a three-storey block of flats in Forest Gate – after already building it.

Surbjit Aulak had planning permission to build a two-storey building of two maisonettes behind 316 Romford Road. However, he built a three-storey building of two flats and two studios instead.

Newham Council ordered him to demolish the building – which it said contained “low-quality housing” – because of its “undersized accommodation”.

Aulak now wants the council to approve amended designs allowing him to keep the building.

The council approved the plans for two maisonettes in 2018.

However, instead of building the approved plans, Aulak instead built a three-storey building of four homes. These included a two bedroom flat on the ground floor, another on the first floor, and two studios in the top floor.

The council ordered Aulak to demolish the building, in an enforcement notice issued in 2022.

The notice criticised the building for its “poor” design.

It said: “The undersized accommodation does not provide for an adequate or healthy living environment for existing and future occupants.”

After Aulak appealed, the government’s Planning Inspectorate said he did not have to demolish the building as long as he made it fit with the original planning permission.

He then applied for planning permission in 2024 to convert the building so that it contained one two-bed flat and one four-bed maisonette, but the council refused this on similar grounds.

Aulak has now submitted a planning application for a new design. He wants to keep the two flats on the ground and first floor, and convert the top floor studios into a one-bed flat.

A statement submitted with his application claims he received advice from planning officers before he applied, saying that his new design would be acceptable.

Aulak’s new application was made available to view and comment on via the council’s planning website on 26th October, using reference number 26/02044/FUL.

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