Illegal Garage Standoff: Borehamwood Man Defies Council
Neighbours in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, are furious with Romanian businessman Daniel Toma, 41, who has refused to demolish a 'massive' garage built without planning permission, despite a council order and its impact on the local community.
Residents are calling a man who constructed an unauthorised garage on his property a ‘disgrace’ after he steadfastly refused to dismantle it. Daniel Toma, 41, erected a substantial garage complete with electric gates and fencing next to his end-of-terrace home in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, without obtaining the necessary planning permission.
Following its construction, numerous neighbours lodged complaints with Hertsmere Council. The council subsequently rejected Toma’s retrospective planning application, ordering him to demolish the unsightly structure. However, Toma has declared his intention not to comply, claiming he requires it for his ‘ambulances’.
Toma’s ambulance business reportedly provides transport for ‘mental health patients and vulnerable young people’, as well as those with ‘court appearances’. He asserted, ‘I will not remove it. People in the area do not have a problem with it.’ However, those living nearby hold significantly different opinions to those voiced by Toma.
Neighbours' Frustration and Impact
Peter Loughlin, 74, expressed his dismay to the Daily Mail: ‘It’s an absolute disgrace. He should be ashamed of himself. He’s ruined my view. I’ve lived here 30 years, and he is destroying my life. I cannot see out of it properly.’
Bermet Amanaeva, 40, a resident of the area for over a decade, described the garage as a ‘nightmare’. She stated: ‘I have to look at it every day. It’s so ugly. Also, when they drive in, they’re crossing. It’s dangerous. They just do what they like. It’s an odd place; you don’t see ambulances very often. Other cars go in there. It makes me so angry.’
The sizeable structure is positioned at the rear of Toma’s £600,000 property, significantly protruding from his home.
Understanding Planning Regulations
Building detached garages or sheds in Hertfordshire typically do not require planning permission if they are single-storey, no higher than 4m, and cover less than 50% of the land around the home. However, any structure exceeding these dimensions, located within two metres of a boundary line, or built in front of the house, contravenes council regulations.
Previous Cases of Unauthorised Construction
Toma’s situation is not an isolated incident in the UK, where homeowners have caused neighbourly disputes with unauthorised building projects. In a similar case, a man who erected a small house on his driveway without planning permission was compelled to demolish it.
The homeowner, identified as Mr M Singh, initially received approval in 2019 to construct a single-storey garage on Vaughton Street, in Highgate, Birmingham. However, council officials were reportedly astonished to discover a small two-storey ‘house’ had been built on the driveway instead.
Mr Singh was ordered to demolish the residential dwelling following an appeal, during which he argued there were only ‘minor differences’ to the approved plans.