Developer who built East London block without approval makes fresh bid to keep it

A developer who built a larger block of flats than councillors approved is making a fresh attempt to secure planning permission after being ordered to demolish the building.Surbjit Aulak was given permission in 2018 to build a two-storey structure containing two maisonettes in Forest Gate.But he went beyond the initial consent and instead built a three-storey development with two flats and two studios behind 316 Romford Road.Newham Council issued an enforcement notice in 2022 and ordered the building's demolition, describing it as "low-quality housing" with undersized accommodation. But after an appeal, a government planning inspector ruled the building could remain if altered to comply more closely with approved plans.Mr Aulak has now submitted fresh proposals in a bid to convince councillors to approve amended designs that would allow him to keep the building.The developer is seeking to keep the three-storey development he built behind 316 Romford Road in Forest GateGoogle Street ViewHowever, instead of building the approved plans, Mr 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 Mr Aulak appealed, the Government’s Planning Inspectorate said the developer 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.Mr 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.Read MoreA statement submitted with his application, published online late last month, claims he received advice from planning officers before he applied that his new design would be acceptable.