Millimetres from the neighbours' home - is this the most outrageous extension in Birmingham?
Even though this building is much wider than the planning permission, officials have caused outrage by allowing it to remain.
A giant, two-storey side extension to a detached home at The Hurst, in was supposed to be at least a foot away from its neighbour but is touching it at the roof level.
The two buildings are so close that there is only one gutter between them. Amazing pictures in the gallery above show freshly laid bricks almost resting on the neighbours' wall.
But rather than tell the owner of the house which is being rebuilt to knock it down, the planning department has bizarrely given permission for the extension.
Local MP revealed planning permission for the work was not granted until June 2013 - three months after construction began.
Retired Gerard, aged 70, and Christina White, 65, who have lived next door for 37 years, have been told that they will have to take private legal action against the owner.
Mrs White, a former deputy head teacher, said: "The plans passed were completely ignored.
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"All professionals involved agree that the build is not according to plan but as far as we know the planning department intend no further action."
They originally objected to the extension asking for enough room to be able to paint their side wall and maintain their guttering.
And Mr White, a retired motor engineer, added: "The owner does what they like and our complaints are simply not being treated seriously."
Following the building work, the couple's roofer found their gutter resting on the next door roof and told them he could no longer clear or fix it.
The Whites have also been advised the gutter is likely to overflow and could damage a flat roof extension at the back.
The detached house next door, which according to Rightmove.co.uk was bought for £225,000 in 2012, is now semi-detached in all but name.
A total of 300 neighbours, representing every house hold in the street, have signed a petition calling on the council to take action.
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Mr McCabe said: "Not only has this monstrosity been built without planning permission, and the culprit rewarded with retrospective approval, but the meagre conditions attached to it have been ignored.
"It seems inconceivable that any competent planning officer could recommend this to councillors."
Mr McCabe is currently being inundated in the area.
He added: "I'm sick of seeing my constituents' lives and homes destroyed by rogue landlords and cowboy builders who simply ignore the law.
"The planning department needs to get a grip and start enforcing conditions and taking action and the Government needs to realise what a nightmare its decision to increase permitted development and deregulate building inspectors has created for ordinary families.
"I simply don't accept that planning officers are incapable of enforcing the rules. We know it is done in other authorities, why can't we have the same approach here?"
A Birmingham City Council spokesman admitted the extension had been given approval.
"Planning enforcement officers visited the property and established that, while the work undertaken differed slightly from what was approved, this was not sufficient to warrant enforcement action," he said.
"As such, the case has been closed. We will, of course, continue to investigate any concerns from members of the public regarding planning matters and take action where necessary."
The owner, listed on the application as Mohammed Nazir, gave the empty property as his address on the planning application.
The Post has left a message for him but he had not responded at the time of publication.