The owners of a local market have been ordered to pay thousands of pounds after their failure to adhere to local planning laws.
On Thursday, March 6, 2025, Arif Mahmood, 68, and Shafquat Parveen Mahmood, 63, both of Wellington Road North, Stockport were sentenced at Manchester Magistrates’ Court after they failed to comply with a planning notice under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
The offence dates back to August 2023, when enforcement officers from Manchester City Council’s planning department were made aware of a roller-shuttered canopy structure that had been installed to the front of a property at 108 Mauldeth Road, trading under the name Manoo Superstore.
It transpired that the owners had not obtained the correct planning permission that would allow this structure, therefore the owners of the property were contacted and advised that the development must be removed.
However, despite repeated attempts to resolve this matter by October 2023 it had still not been resolved. This resulted in the Council issuing a formal planning enforcement notice, requiring the structure to be removed within three months.
During their appearance in Magistrates’ Court both A and S Mahmood pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an enforcement notice.
They were ordered to pay a fine of £3,000, court costs of £994 and a victim surcharge of £1,200.
Councillor Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development said: “It is a shame that this case ultimately had to be resolved in court. The Council gave the owners of this premises multiple chances to do the right thing and comply with our planning order, however these were not taken up.
“This should send a message that planning laws are there to be followed and that there are severe penalties in place for trying to circumvent the law.”
