'illegal' mock-Tudor castle he tried to hide behind 40ft hay bales

Motivatedworkingmum

I don't think this guy is 'laying low'.............If anyone reads the homes magazine ' 25 Beautiful homes' he seems to be pretty proud of his new home! The January 09 edition (page 40) has a 5 page spread of his 'castle' with lots of lovely pictures! So if anyone wants a nosey grab a copy off the shelves at your news agents and take a look.

foxxymynx

there was a documenty on this a while ago.

He found a loophole and exploited it - fair game IMO

novazombie

foxxymynx wrote: »

there was a documenty on this a while ago.

He found a loophole and exploited it - fair game IMO

I am searching for but no joy.

Can anyone be kind enough to post a link to this documentry?

foxxymynx

There's something on ITV1 tomorrow (3rd January) on Homes from Hell apparently but I can't find the one that I watched a while ago. I think it would have been September/October

Yoshua

crazygaijin wrote: »

Yes lots of people are doing this sort of thing now.

Something like a Hobit hole out of lord of the rings.

Or I like something like the teletubbies house, from the air its invisable.

There is a big comunity online, I will give you the link if you want.

Its a good idea to bury a park home, you would have good insulation get a nice log stove in the middle very warm in winter.
You said about Mr Fidler not thinking it through, well have you? Its not as easy as you think.

What about drainage? How will you suport the roof etc?

I can see many problems.

Yes please give me the link.

I very much doubt they will notice. Its a big country.

It will only take one day to get a JCB in. Dig a big hole with one pipe coming out at lowest point (its on a hill) for your point about drainage. Several beams going over the top, then the roof. Then shovel earth on top grass will soon grow. This is the best insulation. If I had a H.I.P done it would score 100

Then after get the park home in with land rover block it up level etc. Connect water and elec etc. Then put the chimney though leaving the main entrance and a few holes for the windows and vents. Grass will soon grow on top maybe a few shrubs etc to hide the chimney and vents.

OK what other problems do you see?

harryhound

Palm_Centro wrote: »

Having lived in a part of Devon where development was highly restricted it is clear that it is worth a gamble building without PP.

"North Devon", quite rightly, got into trouble for favouring applicants from the local area.
We are all equal under the law.
(Though local developers know the ropes and local councils are scared of taking them on and losing at appeal and picking up the tab. This means that the ordinary citizen is less likely to get permission and to get a load of hassle over some insignificant feature).

RDB

harryhound wrote: »

"North Devon", quite rightly, got into trouble for favouring applicants from the local area.
We are all equal under the law.
(Though local developers know the ropes and local councils are scared of taking them on and losing at appeal and picking up the tab. This means that the ordinary citizen is less likely to get permission and to get a load of hassle over some insignificant feature).

But Mr Fidler is a local and he lost. He has to demolish it! It should have happened already when are the bulldozers going in?


For that guy who wants to bury a caravan, why go to all that effort?


You can get permission for a caravan easy enough. Just think of an idea for a use of the land and say you need a caravan there. You can keep putting off whatever your idea was and be allowed to keep it for ever. Getting permission for residency is another thing though.

Or you could try doing Mr Fidlers way, but this time do it the smart way.

If you build a house, all you have to do is prove you lived there for 4 years then you are allowed to keep it. Just dont try to hide it behind hay bales (how stupid can you get) they will get you to demolish it. As long as you keep a low profile 4 years isnt hard, just use your head.

harryhound

I am still confused by Mr Fiddler's outcome.
Just to sum up:
To be allowed to build a domestic residence one must comply with building regulations and get LAND use planning permission.
Are we agreed that Mr Fiddler does not have a problem with the building regulations?
Land use planning permission also includes powers to vet the size and appearance of any building constructed on land with the appropriate use; hence "outline" permission.
If you and I make changes to our home and the local authority fail to notice for 4 years, they cannot enforce their dislike of what we have done (by definition nobody has complained so what harm have we done?)
So where did Mr Fiddler go wrong?
Did he need to wait 10 years for change of use of his land to be ultra vires (beyond the strength of the law)?
OR
Was he unable to prove he had indeed lived in the castle for 4 years?
OR
We have judge made law, and judges don't like the two finger salute from smart @rses?

nickmason

Can it really have only cost £50K?

Claremac

Think he has family (sons) in the trade so that probably helps.