Third Birkby planning row erupts – this time over ‘unauthorised’ charity office

A THIRD planning dispute has broken out between a Birkby home owner and the council – this time over an ‘unauthorised’ charity office.

Khalid Pervaz, who runs Huddersfield Muslim Welfare, has built an office for the charity in the grounds of his Birkby home.

The charity, which was set up in the 1970s, promotes the teaching of Islam at Huddersfield mosques.

In 2006 Mr Pervaz was granted planning permission for a detached garage where the office now stands.

But the planning permission notice stipulates that the garage “shall not thereafter be used for any purpose other than parking and turning of vehicles”.

Kirklees Council says Mr Pervaz, of Birkby Road, has no planning permission for the single-storey building which has two sets of french windows.

A spokesperson for the council said: “It does require planning permission and none had been sought for this building.

“The council is aware and, if the matter is not resolved by the owner, the council will need to consider whether or not formal enforcement action is taken.”

One neighbour said: “It spoils the look of the road. It’s not in keeping with the area.

“This single storey building has just appeared without any permission and it’s certainly not fair.

“It appears that people are building things without planning permission and trying to get away with it.

“I hope the council’s planning department will be vigilant and restore it to how it was.”

Mr Pervaz claimed he had applied to Kirklees Council for planning permission for his office.

He said: “I’ve applied to them and I’ve never heard anything from them. That was two or three years ago.

“They haven’t written to me. If they have a problem they need to write to me.

“The council looked at it when I was building it.

“Kirklees Council have a misunderstanding and they need to write to me.”

The row is the third dispute between a Birkby home owner and Kirklees Council.

Wasim Latif, of Thanes Close, was last month accused of building an office, conservatory, garden wall and porch without planning permission.

Businessman Abdul Hafiz, of Inglewood Avenue, may have to dismantle unauthorised extensions to his ‘LA-style’ mansion after he lost his appeal against the council last month.