A couple who built an unauthorised extension and outbuilding in their garden, to house more than 100 pigeons, have been found guilty of breaching a planning enforcement notice.
They must pay a total of £6,000.
Rifat Begum and Zahid Khan, of Quinbrookes, Wexham, failed to comply with the planning enforcement notice relating to an unauthorised additional single storey side extension, outbuilding, and the storage of pigeons at their residential property.
Concerns raised by neighbours included noise and disturbance from constant cooing and fluttering, odour arising from pigeon activity and the burning of pigeon waste.
Slough Borough Council took them to court over the breach, and the case concluded at East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on 1 December, where both defendants pleaded guilty.
The conviction follows a long-running enforcement process, including a dismissed appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, which found that the development caused significant harm to neighbouring residents and the character of the area.
In July 2024, the Planning Inspectorate upheld the enforcement notice in full and found that the structures on the site were poorly designed, basic and visually intrusive.
The Inspector described them as incongruous within their suburban garden setting and disproportionately large. It was noted that a substantial number of pigeons, estimated at between 100 and 150, were being kept on the land and that commercial sales of pigeons and pigeon food were taking place. Evidence included on-site discussions, online advertisements and the presence of an online pigeon food sales linked to the defendants.
The Inspector found the development caused unacceptable harm to neighbouring living conditions.
During the site visit, the Inspector observed and smelled the remains of a bonfire in the garden. The Inspector also highlighted the intrusive visual impact of the structures due to their scale, design and the lack of effective boundary screening. In his conclusion, he stated that the development was in clear conflict with the development plan and national planning guidance.
Despite the Inspector’s decision, a council site visit in November 2024 confirmed that the unauthorised outbuilding remained in place, pigeons were still present on the land, and the wooden and metal structures had been relocated rather than removed. The side extension had only recently been demolished, significantly beyond the deadline set by the enforcement notice. As a result, the case was referred for prosecution.
In sentencing, District Judge Pankhania described the matter as a serious and protracted breach involving clear and continued non-compliance with a valid enforcement notice.
The defendants were fined £200 each, together with a victim surcharge of £120 and prosecution costs of £2,981.25, bringing the total financial penalty to £3,301.25 per defendant. The sums will be recovered via benefit deductions.
Councillor Paul Kelly, lead member for planning, parking, highways and transport, said: “This case represents a serious and long-standing breach of planning control that caused real harm to neighbours and the wider community. The Planning Inspectorate was clear that the unauthorised structures and intensive pigeon-keeping were harmful, intrusive and unacceptable.
“Despite every opportunity to comply, the defendants failed to take appropriate action. This successful prosecution demonstrates that enforcement notices are legal requirements, and the council will take firm action when there is planning harm, including harm to residents and the neighbouring amenity, and a statutory notice is not complied with.”
The council will continue to monitor the property to ensure full and lasting compliance with the enforcement notice, including the removal of the unauthorised outbuilding and the ending of all pigeon-related activity at the property.