An Englishmans house is his castle.......
Discussion
BlackLabel said:
I remember reading about this back in 2002 when he built it. Suprised he has managed to keep it up this long.Good on him and good luck.
Adrian W said:
I was listening to his wife on LBC this afternoon, there is more to this story than the headlines show, she says the council ignored three planning applications and refused another to convert another building, she says in the end they gave up and built the castle, Banstead council have now intimated that they will give permission on the development they originally refused, they do seen to be a shower of s
t.
"ignored" or "refused" or just the "advised the applicant to resubmit as what was submitted so far was unlikely to get anywhere"?t.Mr_B said:
Pull it down, film it, post in on the local council website in the planning section.
Yes those brave council people should stand up to the nasty people ruining the countryside we can't have little folk just building themselves a family home where they please , we have big corporations to do that thank you very much!!!Adrian W said:
I was listening to his wife on LBC this afternoon, there is more to this story than the headlines show, she says the council ignored three planning applications and refused another to convert another building, she says in the end they gave up and built the castle, Banstead council have now intimated that they will give permission on the development they originally refused, they do seen to be a shower of st.
She would say that, wouldn't she?t.powerstroke said:
Mr_B said:
Pull it down, film it, post in on the local council website in the planning section.
Yes those brave council people should stand up to the nasty people ruining the countryside we can't have little folk just building themselves a family home where they please , we have big corporations to do that thank you very much!!!I at least can have some kinda say against other developments, but I don't know of any nasty " big corporations" that have acted in quite the same way as he did by trying to hide their developments behind hay bales.
Mr_B said:
powerstroke said:
Mr_B said:
Pull it down, film it, post in on the local council website in the planning section.
Yes those brave council people should stand up to the nasty people ruining the countryside we can't have little folk just building themselves a family home where they please , we have big corporations to do that thank you very much!!!I at least can have some kinda say against other developments, but I don't know of any nasty " big corporations" that have acted in quite the same way as he did by trying to hide their developments behind hay bales.
that the council haven't got the money to fight and local people don't stand a chance to object to most of what these people want to do , planning in this country is set up for the big developers , the small guy is bullied by the planners and swamped with red tape for even a modest self build
not saying what this guy did was right and he was stupid building something so eloborate ,
however what would our towns and cities look like if we had always had town planning ??? my guess is some very dreary uniformity they are taking us that way now every town looks the same when any new building is added , same dreary mock cottage style,or mock some other victorian s
te all built in the same layout with the same chain shops .... powerstroke said:
Mr_B said:
powerstroke said:
Mr_B said:
Pull it down, film it, post in on the local council website in the planning section.
Yes those brave council people should stand up to the nasty people ruining the countryside we can't have little folk just building themselves a family home where they please , we have big corporations to do that thank you very much!!!I at least can have some kinda say against other developments, but I don't know of any nasty " big corporations" that have acted in quite the same way as he did by trying to hide their developments behind hay bales.
that the council haven't got the money to fight and local people don't stand a chance to object to most of what these people want to do , planning in this country is set up for the big developers , the small guy is bullied by the planners and swamped with red tape for even a modest self build
not saying what this guy did was right and he was stupid building something so eloborate ,
however what would our towns and cities look like if we had always had town planning ??? my guess is some very dreary uniformity they are taking us that way now every town looks the same when any new building is added , same dreary mock cottage style,or mock some other victorian s
te all built in the same layout with the same chain shops .... I'm afraid this guy took the piss and made a rod for his own back by thinking he was so clever and then courting the press to aid his case. He has made himself ripe for being held up as a show case for punishment to deter others. Given what the council must have spent in ten years on this, encouraging more cases that roll on for the same 10 year period is the last thing anyone needs.
I've copied my reply over from another older thread:
Bloke lives around the corner from me and I think the High Court have now told him to knock it down by March otherwise the bulldozers move in.
Not really a "Farm" either, couple of fields with some cattle.
Of course there's now a petition against the council to stop the "Reckless Waste" with a few thousand signatures on it now.
The house is lovely though, solid oak staircases, the dome off of the damaged Brighton West Pier. It's properly done and would be a shame but you just can't do what you please otherwise where would we end up??
Apparently built it all himself so some skill there.
The bloke must have some cash as he goes under the radar in a flourescent yellow Bentley GT Convertible....
Bloke lives around the corner from me and I think the High Court have now told him to knock it down by March otherwise the bulldozers move in.
Not really a "Farm" either, couple of fields with some cattle.
Of course there's now a petition against the council to stop the "Reckless Waste" with a few thousand signatures on it now.
The house is lovely though, solid oak staircases, the dome off of the damaged Brighton West Pier. It's properly done and would be a shame but you just can't do what you please otherwise where would we end up??
Apparently built it all himself so some skill there.
The bloke must have some cash as he goes under the radar in a flourescent yellow Bentley GT Convertible....
He's a wide boy chancer, taking the piss and getting publicity to get sympathy. Hid it behind bales for years and now playing the 'it's our HOME' card. Pissed off all the neighbours years ago.
As someone said, film the wrecking ball and stick it on the council website as pay per view to recoup some of the costs.
As someone said, film the wrecking ball and stick it on the council website as pay per view to recoup some of the costs.
woowahwoo said:
Chap has time to build a moat and some defensive walls. Let's have a good siege.
Should give him another five years while the council reviews how to cross a moat. Followed by a further ten years during which the demolition crew receive necessary water safety certificates (will probably be a degree level qualification by then, so add another three years).Crush said:
Should give him another five years while the council reviews how to cross a moat. Followed by a further ten years during which the demolition crew receive necessary water safety certificates (will probably be a degree level qualification by then, so add another three years).
I'm guessing you're not in your twenties. 
Such perfect cynicism is generally age-gathered..
He played the system and they were never gonna let him get away with that. On one hand I think what an entitled idiot..... on the other I do have some sympathy and it seems a shame to bulldoze home now it is there.
I think part of the problem is he built such an elaborate 'look at me' castle, rather than a modest home that would fit into the landscape better. However I can't help but think if this was a large company that had built a huge block of flats or commercial premises without the correct permissions they would eventually get away with it by hiding behind a legal team.
On a wider point we desperately need more houses, even if all immigration was halted tomorrow that would still be the case. Sooner or later we will have to relax planning laws, even on so called greenbelt. It is crazy the hoops and red tape that are put in place for the average person to build a modest property or add an extension or whatever.
I think part of the problem is he built such an elaborate 'look at me' castle, rather than a modest home that would fit into the landscape better. However I can't help but think if this was a large company that had built a huge block of flats or commercial premises without the correct permissions they would eventually get away with it by hiding behind a legal team.
On a wider point we desperately need more houses, even if all immigration was halted tomorrow that would still be the case. Sooner or later we will have to relax planning laws, even on so called greenbelt. It is crazy the hoops and red tape that are put in place for the average person to build a modest property or add an extension or whatever.
VolvoT5 said:
I think part of the problem is he built such an elaborate 'look at me' castle, rather than a modest home that would fit into the landscape better. However I can't help but think if this was a large company that had built a huge block of flats or commercial premises without the correct permissions they would eventually get away with it by hiding behind a legal team.
Nope. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3359721/Pr...VolvoT5 said:
On a wider point we desperately need more houses, even if all immigration was halted tomorrow that would still be the case. Sooner or later we will have to relax planning laws, even on so called greenbelt. It is crazy the hoops and red tape that are put in place for the average person to build a modest property or add an extension or whatever.
Completely agree. The consultation by the DCLG was issued a week ago. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nation...Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff