Ealing Council has demolished several outbuildings in East Acton after it was discovered they were being used as unauthorised dwellings.

The illegal dwellings were at the rear of numbers 2, 4 & 6 Sunningdale Avenue, W3 and had been discovered by council officers in November 2013.

The owner, Sofiane Belbegra, was subsequently served with a planning enforcement notice requiring the three units to be demolished. However he appealed the enforcement notice and, following a public inquiry held in November 2014, the Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal giving him until 18 June 2015 to comply.

Cllr Julian Bell, Ealing Council leader, who has responsibility for planning, said: “Planning laws are in place to stop unlawful, dangerous structures being put up randomly and to protect neighbourhoods, as well as tenants. I am particularly pleased to see a really robust approach to enforcement being carried through and real consequences being felt by the unscrupulous landlord, as in this case.”

As a result of the demolition carried out by the council, Mr Belbegra will be sent a bill for the cost of the entire works. If the bill is not settled a charge will be placed on the properties which will incur interest until the outstanding money is paid in full. 

In addition, during the appeal in November 2014, it came to light that Mr Belbegra was using the three main houses at Sunningdale Avenue as a hotel and flats. The council has since issued him with a further enforcement notice requiring these uses to stop, and an appeal against this notice is ongoing.