Landowner faces demolishing £500,000 home after failing to get planning permission
Businessman Tony Harvey has been ordered by the council to demolish the house he built in West Compton, Somerset.
A businessman is facing the prospect of having to demolish the £500,000 home he built on his land during lockdown without planning permission.
Tony Harvey built the house on a plot of land behind a hedge above the rural hamlet of West Compton, near Glastonbury, Somerset.
He believes the single-storey barn-style home is in keeping with the countryside location, but some villagers have complained its large windows mean it is "lit up like a Christmas tree" at night.
It has also been claimed the new house has redirected the water run-off from the field onto the road, and in cold weather this water freezes, making for dangerous driving conditions.
Mr Harvey, a mechanic who runs a garage, was visited 12 months ago by officials from Somerset Council, who later served an enforcement notice ordering him to demolish the property within six months.
He has applied for retrospective planning permission to retain the two-bedroom home, either as a residential or rural workers dwelling, but both applications were rejected.
Harvey has since appealed against the enforcement notice and the outcome will be decided by the Planning Inspectorate.
Harvey has refused to comment.
His planning agent, James Whilding, managing director of Acorus Rural Property Services Limited, said in a planning report: "The design seeks to provide housing of exceptional quality with high quality design, construction and material quality."
He said the property was "required for the applicant and partner with a strong local connection to the rural settlement".
However, a spokesperson from Somerset Council said: "The Local Planning Authority, having carefully considered the grounds for refusal, consider it expedient and an enforcement notice has been issued requiring the property to be demolished and the land restored back to an agricultural field.
"The enforcement notice was served on 12 October and the owner has until 27 November to appeal the notice to the Planning Inspectorate or demolish the property within six months."
Locals are divided about the planning row.
Harriet Ray, who lives in West Compton, said: "The building is in a prominent position on the summit of the hill and overlooks the houses and gardens of West Compton residents, causing a lack of privacy both in summer and winter.
"At night the property is lit up like a Christmas tree so that the skyline is dominated by lights from the building.
"My own feelings are that it is wrong to build something without planning permission. We all have to get planning permission. If I wanted to put up stables for my horses I would have to. Why should he get away with it?"
Stuart Vaughan, 77, said: "He has built a fairly fancy building which has fantastic views. But it is very much visible to the whole of West Compton because it is on top of the ridge.
"It has got glass overlooking these fantastic views. There are no street lights in West Compton and no light pollution so when he puts the lights on it is lit up and it looks like an alien invasion from Mars."
But Rob Smith, a customer at Harvey's garage, supported the planning and believes there is a "distinct stink of nimbyism" from objectors.
He said: "I feel there is a strong need to keep talented hard working tradespeople like Tony within our community.
"With house prices locally being unaffordable to people from working class backgrounds, allowing people with the skills and motivation to produce their own is only fair and right."
Stephanie Christensen said: "I fully believe that this application should be supported by the local council, as every effort has been made to carry out a thoughtful design which is evident by what's on the ground."
When do you need planning permission?
According to the government, you will most likely need planning permission if you want to build something new, make a major change to your building such as an extension or change the use of the building.
Homeowners should contact their local planning authority (LPA) through their council to find out if they need planning permission.
To apply for planning permission, they must do so through the LPA.
If a building project needs planning permission and you do the work without getting it, you can be served an enforcement notice, ordering you to undo all the changes you have made.
It is illegal to ignore an enforcement notice, but you can appeal against it.
