Builder who flouted building regulations

A man who built a rear dormer on the back of a Middleton hairdressing salon without obtaining building regulation approval has been ordered to pay a total of £1,515 in fines and costs.

Mark Mann (37) of St Mary’s Road, Prestwich, was handed the fine of £500, with costs of £1015 after pleading guilty to contravening building regulations at Bury and Rochdale Magistrates Court.

The court heard that Mr Mann had constructed a rear dormer at the Jubilee Road salon he owned with his wife for proposed conversion into a first floor flat. But he did so without seeking building regulation approval. He also failed to seek planning permission.

In the case brought by Rochdale Council’s legal team, Mr Mann had arranged for the roof to be replaced following a fire at the premises in August 2011 and took the opportunity to construct the rear dormer at the same time.

He eventually applied for planning permission in April 2012, but this was refused, and a further planning application and building regulation application have now been submitted.

Council Richard Farnell, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “Mr Mann was given ample opportunity to remove or rectify the offending work, but he chose not to do so. This left the council with no option other than to pursue him through the courts. We hope this will serve as a warning to any unscrupulous developers who think it’s okay to flout the rules – they can be assured that we will deal with them using the full force of the law.”