Woman, 63, forced to demolish new £150,000 home as it was ONE METRE too high

Sue Wilesmith, 63, bought a plot of land near Looe, Cornwall, and decided to start building a two-storey timber property.

But her new home has been completely taken to pieces because she failed to obtain planning permission from Cornwall Council.

Ms Wilesmith has lost around £150,000 in costs – not including the £200,000 she paid for the land – which included two derelict buildings.

After purchasing the land she quickly realised that the current structures needed rebuilding – but didn't speak to the council about her plans.

She said: “People have been shocked to see that it’s been taken down. We just assumed we could renovate and refurbish the buildings.


"It looked like it had rendered walls, but I soon realised that beneath the plaster, the walls were only held together by chicken wire and corrugated iron.

"The only thing holding up the roof was a single beam. It was like a game of Jenga. I didn't really consider planning permission. I was more concerned with the structure.

"I applied for a certificate of lawful use but that was rejected. Then I applied for retrospective planning permission but they weren't having any of that.

"I just couldn't get anyone to sit down and have a conversation with me."

The new timber building she built was one metre taller than the original property and the council began investigating after being notified.

Sue applied for retrospective planning permission but this was denied but admits she can “see their point of view”.

She added: "I don't feel hard done by, but I do feel, if you read anything about how a planning department should behave, I think they were a bit harsh not having a conversation with me about coming to some arrangement.

"As much as it was a beautiful building, and it was lovely inside, I can actually see their point of view.

"I did however think the building was in keeping with the area, being made of timber and as a lodge among the trees.

"I do agree the building looked too tall and, looking at it now, I'd like to be able to put a single-storey building there."

Sue was fined £6,500 after losing a court case and told to remove the house.



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