Developer prosecuted over unauthorised housing

Munjit Singh Dulay was fined and ordered to clear the site

A developer who tried to build a housing development without planning permission then ignored a demolition order has been fined and told the site must be cleared.

Munjit Singh Dulay bought Holme View Care Home in Holme Wood, Bradford, after it closed in 2017, but was issued with an enforcement notice in 2024 after a member of the public raised concerns it was being converted into unauthorised housing.

The order had not been complied with by August so Bradford Council began a prosecution.

The 59-year-old, from the Bristol area, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a planning contravention notice and was ordered to pay more than £3,000 in fines and costs by magistrates.

A solicitor for Mr Dulay told Bradford Magistrates' Court that his client had "buried his head in the sand" about the situation and that the architect working on the project had left for Saudi Arabia.

"He left everything in the architect's hands," he said.

"Of course he accepts as an individual he should have had a better grasp on the situation."

The solicitor also argued the development, under Mr Dulay's company MB Estates LTD, was to an existing building.

"It is not a case of building on open land."

'Nothing but problems'

Waseem Raja, prosecuting, said Mr Dulay had been contacted about the works but he made no attempt to "rectify the matter or engage with the planning authority".

"In January the council issued an enforcement notice requiring him to demolish the unauthorised building and remove all materials from the site.

"That notice took effect in February and should have been complied with by August."

Magistrates were told that as of 31 October, no demolition work had been done, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Dulay said the demolition would be "put in motion" next week and that he was trying to "turn things around".

"Because of the area it is in I've had nothing but problems," he said.

Mr Dulay was fined £332 and ordered to pay £2,696 costs to Bradford Council and a £133 surcharge.

He was reminded that although he had been sentenced, the order was still in place for him to clear the site and if he did not comply the prosecution would begin again.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.