An on-going battle between a homeowner who flouted planning laws and his “arch nemesis” neighbour was aired to the nation last night in a TV documentary.

For three decades residents in Dale View Crescent, Chingford, have complained about the behaviour of Brian Gage, 58, who they describe as a “neighbour from hell”.

Mr Gage has persistently flouted planning laws, erecting a number of buildings on land which they say is protected by a covenant.

Last night (May 25), the dispute was featured on Channel 4's Damned Designs: Don't Demolish my Home.

Chairman of the Dale View Residents' Association (DVRA) Gordon Wilkinson detailed the many times he has gone up against his neighbour.

In the mid-1980s Mr Gage built a family bungalow without planning permission. 

He lifted the building into a neighbour's garden until the building ban was lifted four years later and he was granted permission to build a three-bedroom bungalow. 

Instead, he built a five bedroom, three bathroom, two-storey house, which he now admits was a "bit of a liberty". 

In 2012, Mr Gage was prosecuted for illegally converting a garage into a flat but then went on to build a second garage, without planning permission. 

He was issued with enforcement action by the council in 2009 to convert it back to a garage, but the council agreed to let Mr Gage keep the flat at a hearing in September 2014. 

The second garage was demolished by the council in October 2013 when Mr Gage was fighting for his life in a Portugal hospital after being gored by a bull on a family holiday. 

The council accused Mr Gage of "playing the system for a number of years". 

Mr Wilkinson, 84, has spent three decades holding Mr Gage to account.

During the documentary, Mr Wilkinson, said: "I don't think Mr Gage likes me too much because he knows I will stand up against him. 

"Mr Gage always plays the law very close to the wind and he will try things just to see if he can get away with it."

Mr Gage admitted he "secretly likes a battle to keep his adrenaline going" and said he "would do it all over again."

He described Mr Wilkinson as a "complete pain in the rear" and a "self-appointed busy-body". 

Today (May 26), the 84-year-old responded by saying: "I am not a busy body.

"I'm standing up for the rights of people because the residents' association asked me for my help. 

"For over 25 years he has willy nilly been building without permission and the council has acted terribly in allowing this to happen."

 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Council demolition starts bringing a 30 year dispute to an end in Chingford

Council bulldozers get to work demolishing garage on land off Dale View Crescent