A massive garage at a Borehamwood home has sparked a standoff between Romanian businessman Daniel Toma and Hertsmere Council.
The council refused retrospective planning permission, calling the structure “dominant, incongruous, visually intrusive and disproportionate” and harmful to the local streetscape.
Toma says the garage is vital for his ambulance business, which transports mental health patients, vulnerable young people, and court attendees.
The garage and its role in Toma’s business
The single-storey garage sits beside Toma’s end-terrace property on Aycliffe Road. Originally 3.4m tall, 7.1m wide, and 6.4m deep, amended plans reduced the height to 2.5m, though the bulk and commercial appearance remain prominent.
The front drive, fully block-paved, can accommodate multiple vehicles, including two ambulances already on site, along with a people carrier and a flatbed.
Toma told planners: “I will not remove it. I need it for my ambulances.” The garage allows him to operate his business efficiently from home, storing vehicles used to transport vulnerable clients and court attendees.
Council refusal and planning concerns
Hertsmere Council rejected Toma’s retrospective application, on a number of grounds. The planning report states:
- “The overall width, height and depth of the proposal appears bulky, finished materials are commercial in appearance… dominant, incongruous, visually intrusive and disproportionate.”
- “The garage structure, by reason of its siting, combined height, width, depth and materials, results in substantial harm to neighbouring occupiers… by way of loss of outlook, visual intrusion, overbearing impact largely due to the breach in the 45-degree line of view from the neighbouring habitable window.”
The council also refused planning permission for the garage, noting that reductions in height to the walls and garage did not sufficiently reduce the visual impact, and that the structure is harmful to the appearance of the property and the character of the street.
The dispute goes on
Toma’s refusal to comply has created an ongoing enforcement issue, with the council potentially taking further legal action if he continues to defy the order.
While neighbours have expressed concerns about the garage’s visibility and size, the planning documents stress that the dispute centers on the balance between private business operations and maintaining a residential streetscape.
With its towering walls, dark green metal finish, and entrance opening almost onto a pedestrian crossing, the garage has become a flashpoint between Toma’s growing ambulance business and the council’s efforts to protect the character of the street.
