Neighbour row erupts over businessman's huge 'football director's box' extension that forced homeowners to protest with minibus

A neighbour row has erupted in the West Midlands over a businessman's home extension, with residents hiring a minibus to protest the work.

Mani Singh constructed the three-metre-high grey structure on his semi-detached family home in Sutton Coldfield without obtaining the necessary planning consent, prompting neighbours to describe it as an "ugly eyesore."

The disgruntled residents were determined to voice their opposition that they collectively hired a minibus to attend a Walsall council session last week.

Their coordinated effort proved successful, with the council ordering the father-of-two to remove the extension from his £415,000 three-bedroom property.

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The extension incorporates a dormer window, loft conversion and multiple skylights, with residents arguing it has fundamentally altered the character of their quiet suburban street.

According to neighbours, Mr Singh initially sought planning approval for the large structure but was refused by the council.

He subsequently submitted a second application for a considerably smaller build, which authorities granted permission for.

However, the businessman proceeded to construct the original, larger design regardless of the earlier rejection.

Once residents alerted the council to the unauthorised construction, Mr Singh attempted to regularise the situation by applying for retrospective planning consent.

Liz Deakin, 63, a resident of 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."

She likened the imposing structure to "a director's box you see at big football stadiums," adding it was "not at all appropriate for a quiet suburban area like this."

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Cath Tandy, 75, whose property sits behind Mr Singh's home, described the impact as feeling "a bit like being in a prison exercise yard."

The grandmother explained: "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."

Despite the neighbours' concerns, a planning officer had initially recommended that the retrospective application be approved.

However, Walsall Council ultimately rejected the proposal, ruling that the dormer window breached planning regulations.

Ms Deakin, who addressed councillors directly at the meeting, said: "We all went down and I spoke to the council about the problems we have with this large extension."

The collective action by residents proved decisive in overturning the officer's recommendation.

Mr Singh now faces a choice.

He must either tear down the dormer within six months or lodge an appeal against the council's decision.

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

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

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