A Southampton homeowner has been fined £3,665 for repeatedly ignoring planning rules and failing to comply with an enforcement notice regarding unauthorised building works at his property.
Southampton City Council brought the prosecution against Mr Mubashar Khan, owner of 31 Hartington Road, following a saga of planning breaches that began in early 2021. Mr Khan initially applied for permission to build a first-floor rear extension, but his original plans were rejected by the council due to concerns about the impact on neighbouring residents.
Undeterred, Mr Khan submitted revised plans which addressed these concerns and were subsequently approved. But during construction in 2022, it emerged that the extension exceeded what had been permitted. A complaint from a member of the public prompted the council’s Planning Enforcement team to investigate.
In an attempt to regularise the unauthorised changes, Mr Khan submitted a retrospective planning application in July 2022. This was refused, with the council citing the extension’s negative effect on neighbouring homes and the overall design of the property. Mr Khan appealed, but the Planning Inspectorate dismissed his appeal in April 2023, agreeing that the extension harmed both the local character and the living conditions of neighbours.
With the council’s decision upheld, a formal enforcement notice was issued requiring Mr Khan to remove the unauthorised parts of his extension. Failing to comply is a criminal offence, but Mr Khan did not take the necessary action. He was summonsed to Southampton Magistrates’ Court in December 2024, where he pleaded guilty.
By the time of sentencing in August 2025, Mr Khan had still not rectified the breach. He was fined £3,665, including costs. The council has warned that further prosecutions may follow if the unauthorised works are not removed.
Labour Councillor Sarah Bogle, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “When the Local Planning Authority makes a decision on a planning application it balances the rights of the applicant with the broader interests of the community, and it’s the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that what they build is in line with what’s been approved.
“Where owners, occupiers or developers go beyond the rules, we are committed to using the powers available to us to protect our communities and ensure the planning laws and policies that safeguard the health and wellbeing of local people are respected.”
Southampton City Council is urging homeowners to seek guidance if they are unsure about planning rules, warning that failure to comply could result in serious financial and legal consequences.
