Bollywood Actor Faces Bulldozer Threat Over Raised Garden in UK Planning Dispute

A six-year planning dispute has escalated for Bollywood actor Sumeet Singh Sarao, who faces the potential demolition of his raised garden by bulldozers if he fails to comply with a council order. Telford and Wrekin Council claims Sarao, 39, raised the ground levels of his £900,000 property in Shropshire by 1.4 meters without the necessary planning permission, leading to an alleged "unacceptable" loss of privacy for his neighbors.

Sarao asserts he leveled a section of his garden in 2020 to match the existing higher ground, a move he maintains did not overlook any other properties. He states that a thick hedge already forms a boundary and that neighbors would require a step-ladder to see over the fence. "I'm just a normal human and don't cause any harm to anybody. It feels really unfair," Sarao said.

The council is now demanding that Sarao lower the garden to 1.6 meters, which is 20 centimeters below its original level before the landscaping work. Sarao claims to have invested approximately £8,000 to £9,000 in the garden. He has proposed solutions such as planting more trees and installing a continuous row of conifers to enhance privacy, but these suggestions have been rejected by council planners. He expressed frustration, stating, "I've tried repeatedly to find a constructive solution, but the council insists the garden must be dug out and returned to its previous level."

The council maintains that neighbor amenity has been "unacceptably harmed" and that enforcement action is necessary to uphold the planning system and protect residents. An independent planning inspector upheld an enforcement notice in September 2025, granting a further period for compliance. Despite this, the required remedial works have not been completed. The council has indicated it is considering further formal action, which could include prosecution or carrying out the work themselves and recovering costs from the landowner.

"The Council has therefore asked for a timetable for implementation of the required remedial work," a council spokesperson stated. "We have also offered to meet with the landowner in person to work with him to resolve this matter as soon as possible." Sarao, who has lived at the property for 14 years with his parents, described the prolonged dispute as causing "significant stress" for his family and feels "pushed into a corner" by the council's stance.