A homeowner in Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, has sparked outrage after demolishing his entire terraced house without proper planning permission, leaving neighbours terrified.
The dramatic demolition, which took place last November, sent shockwaves through the quiet London suburb.
“One day the house was there and the next day it wasn’t,” a local resident told Mail Online.
The incident began when the owner submitted plans to extend the rear of his property during summer 2024.
A homeowner in Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, has sparked outrage after demolishing his entire terraced house
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After several planning applications, Three Rivers District Council approved the demolition of his garage and construction of a part single, part two-storey side and rear extension.
However, within days of construction starting in November, workers began demolishing the entire house.
Direct neighbour Alison Wilson described the terrifying ordeal as construction began.
“My entire house was shaking, it was horrifying,” she said.
The situation worsened when Storm Darragh hit, leaving her property exposed.
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Many residents believe the homeowner had planned the complete demolition from the start
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“All that was covering my wall was polythene with some wooden batons across it – and they all blew off. It was absolutely shocking, the house was so cold.”
The demolition’s impact extended beyond immediate neighbours, with residents several houses away reporting severe disruptions.
“The vibrations were so strong, of course we felt it,” said one resident. “The wardrobes were rattling, the walls were shaking. It was really inconvenient.”
Many residents believe the homeowner had planned the complete demolition from the start.
The homeowner defended his actions, stating he “encountered a serious safety issue” with an “unsafe and fragile front wall” during construction.
A building control inspector from a neighbouring authority verified the safety concerns, noting the brickwork would become “damaged easily when structural work was undertaken”.
Three Rivers District Council confirmed they had served an Enforcement Warning Notice on the homeowner
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The homeowner insisted all works aligned with previously approved planning permission.
On January 17, more than a month after the demolition, a retrospective planning application was submitted for the demolition and construction of a replacement dwelling.
Three Rivers District Council confirmed they had served an Enforcement Warning Notice on the homeowner.
“The council will continue to engage with the homeowner and consider the application in due course,” a spokesman said.
The homeowner apologised for the ordeal, stating: “We appreciate this has been very difficult for our neighbours and totally empathise with the stressful impact of the works.”
But Wilson remains distressed by the situation.
“I feel absolutely horrible about the prospect of living next door to this house,” she said. “The council have been no help whatsoever.”
