'Bonkers' enforcement action on Leeds dessert shop over glass frontage labelled 'heavy handed'
A complaint was made after the shop opened in Beeston Hill in June 2024
An enforcement notice from Leeds City Council to a family-run dessert shop to adjust its frontage has been labelled as “bonkers”.
Desserts by Akbar on Woodview Street in Beeston Hill was told to remove its glass frontage after opening in June 2024 as the renovation work of the building had not received planning permission.
The owners appealed the decision but this has now been rejected by the council and the owners will have to pay to remove the glass frontage and roller shutters before reinstating the brick wall.
Local councillor Ed Carlisle, who has been supporting the owners through the dispute, said that it was “daft” that the council had undertaken the enforcement action and that is an example of “suppressing local innovation, regeneration (and) lift”.
The council has said that the works were “unauthorised” and that it “remains committed to its statutory planning and enforcement processes”.
Coun Carlisle said that the space was derelict when it was taken over by the local family and refurbished, saying: “It really lifts and enhances this little corner of the community. I'm yet to find anyone local who's even remotely upset by it.”
He said that a complaint was received, the source of which is not known, which led to the review by the council being conducted that found that the business broke planning law.
Coun Carlisle said that the council’s review found that the shop has "an imposing and dominant look" and "contrasts with the next-door shop", which is a decades-old takeaway. It also found the shop front to be "blank and unwelcoming" and "harms the area's character".
Coun Carlisle said: “I 100% appreciate that council officers are bound by national rules, laws, guidelines. Officers on the whole work hard, and without prejudice. But government systems are sometimes just bonkers, rigid (and) throw up really wonky results like this.
“Especially with backdrop of struggling highstreets this seems very heavy handed to be picking this battle.”
Coun Carlisle helped the business appeal the decision, but this was rejected by the council and an enforcement notice to complete the work was issued.
He said: “They'll have to undo their refurb work, block up the big windows, and - I believe - create a shop front that will be everything the enforcement report rails against: blank and unwelcoming.
“The business will continue but this is a major kick in the shins for them.
“But they have done a good thing by opening in a little backwater area of Beeston Hill
“They will have to close for a few days to do the building work.”
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “The council's planning service encourages early engagement through our pre-application process to help applicants identify whether there is a need for planning permission and to bring forward the most appropriate schemes.
"In this instance, an enforcement notice was issued against the premises as unauthorised works were carried out without planning permission, an application having previously been rejected.
"The enforcement notice was appealed by the premises owner, which was subsequently dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.
"The council remains committed to its statutory planning and enforcement processes. The premises owner can seek planning permission for any future alterations to the building."