A court has ordered the complete demolition of an unfinished block of flats in Northamptonshire following legal action by the council.
Michigan Construction has been told to demolish a six-storey building in Job’s Yard, Kettering, over concerns the structure is in breach of planning and building regulations.
The developer was given planning permission for a four-storey building in the town center in 2019, but started work on a fifth floor, prompting North Northamptonshire Council to issue a stop notice.
Michigan appealed the decision and continued work on the site, adding a sixth floor to the structure. However, at the beginning of the year the Court ordered the promoter to demolish the two upper floors of the building.
Now the builder has been ordered to demolish the entire structure, which has been cordoned off since last June, following a three-day trial at Birmingham High Court.
The court said the demolition must be completed by the end of February by a specialist contractor, paid for by Michigan.
Council leader Jason Smithers said the case shows the council will take tough action against developers who break the rules.
“We simply cannot allow unsafe construction in breach of planning permission to be allowed – it is unsafe for our residents and a blight on our town centres,” he said.
David Brackenbury, the council’s executive member for growth and regeneration, said the authority had been trying to work with the developer for some time and court action had been a last resort.
“We are happy that the court has ruled in our favor and we will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the developer follows the orders set by the court,” he said.
Michigan Construction has been contacted for comment.
