The council has successfully stopped a businessman's plan to use an annexe as a separate property which had been "forbidden".

Massoud Yeganegy of MYA Lettings was brought to court by Southampton City Council last year.

He was accused of failing to comply with a breach notice served upon him in July 2024, which he denied.

The matter arose after the annexe on an existing house owned by Mr Yeganegy's company was being used as a separate dwelling.

It was in breach of planning conditions which said it was “expressly forbidden” to use the extension as anything but an annexe.

Although the proceedings for failing to comply were successfully appealed by Mr Yeganegy on March 18, Cllr Sarah Bogle said time and money could have been saved had he cooperated with them from the start.

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The cabinet member for economic development said: “The case concerned a planning consent for an annexe on an existing house being used as a separate dwelling which was expressly forbidden by a planning condition in order to protect neighbours’ amenity.

“The council brought a second prosecution of the breach of condition notice in accordance with the proper procedures and, after the prosecution was appealed, an agreement was reached with Mr Yeganegy that the appeal would not be opposed if the breach of condition notice was complied with.

“Through this agreement we were able to secure compliance with the original planning condition, protecting the amenity of neighbouring properties, and as a result the council did not oppose the appeal, as had been agreed.

“Nevertheless, had Mr Yeganegy worked with us from the beginning, then the prosecutions and appeal, with all the associated time and costs, could have been avoided.”

Speaking after the appeal, Mr Yeganegy said: “I do not personally own the property and haven’t since 2017.

“The action should not have been taken against myself as an individual. The appeal was successful.”

The council confirmed a condition notice can be served on an owner and/or anyone responsible for the breach.

A spokesperson from MYA Lettings claimed the matter was “incorrectly issued in the first instance” by the council.