Ignoring demands to tear down an illegal roof extension has earned a Stoke Newington landlord a £40,000 court fine – and its director an arrest warrant.
Sternglade Ltd was told to cough up the cash at Thames Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, having already been billed £4,700 in fines and costs over the same issue in 2010.
The roof of the large Victorian villa, let out as flats, had been built up at the back and side of the Evering Road property without planning permission.
Hackney Council took enforcement action telling the landlord to take it down in 2009 but was ignored, hence the 2010 conviction.
The developers then got planning permission for an acceptable alternative to the development – but even then did nothing to change it.
As well as the £40,000 fine, Sternglade was also billed £1,760 for the town hall’s costs, as well as a victim surcharge of £170.
Director Michael Scharf, who was also charged with the same offence repeatedly failed to go to court and a warrant is now out for his arrest.
The council’s planning boss Cllr Guy Nicholson, said: “This company not only ignored the Council’s enforcement notice but even when they had the chance to correct the works they didn’t take this opportunity.
“The council is there to apply planning rules that support and enable safe and appropriate development in the borough. However, we won’t hesitate to take legal action if those rules are broken and no effort is made to rectify an unauthorised development.”
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