Southend home owner set to be ordered to tear down staircase

Southend councillors have been recommended to take enforcement action at a maisonette on Alexandra Road after the breach of planning rules was reported last September. 

The three-storey terraced property consists of a ground floor flat and a first floor maisonette, with the staircase and platform leading to the maisonette. 

Planning officers have raised significant concerns regarding the staircase in their report, and have recommended it be torn down along with the associated platform

Unauthorised - The structure does not have planning permission (Image: Southend Council)

The owner of the property said the staircase was a “like for like” replacement for a previous staircase and platform, but planning officers dispute this.

According to council documents, concerns have been raised by neighbours that the new staircase overlooks their gardens. 

Labour leader of the council Daniel Cowan said: “Enforcement action is often a last resort for our planning department and they have raised significant concerns about the external staircase at this property.

Replacement - The owner said the new structure was to replace a previous one (Image: Southend Council)

“Our planning officers are highly trained and work hard with residents and businesses on their planning applications to get the best mutual outcome.

“It is important that planning permission is granted before work is carried out and we encourage all to consider using our pre-application service to help pre-empt any issues or concerns.

“This is now a matter for our development control committee to consider.”

Loss of privacy - The planning officer said the structure had impacted the privacy of neighbours (Image: Southend Council)

The site, which is within the Clifftown Conservation Area, is located within a tightly knit residential area, with shallow rear gardens.

The report said: “In September 2023, a complaint was received by the Council alleging the installation of a new external staircase to the rear of the property which had a larger platform than the previous external staircase’s platform.

“On the basis of evidence collated by the Council, including photographs submitted by members of the public, lease plans submitted by the owner and site visits by case officers, the new external staircase has a materially larger platform than the previous external staircase, and it is not a like for like replacement and therefore planning permission is required.

“The unauthorised development is therefore unacceptable.”

The enforcement action will be debated at a development control meeting on Wednesday.