Owner of ‘alien ocean liner' Airbnb LOSES neighbour war over guests parading around naked & ‘horrendous' glass eyesore

The Sun

09-05-2025

THE owner of an "alien ocean liner" has lost a feud with his neighbour over the "horrendous" eyesore and guests parading around naked.
A controversial conversion at Penisarwaun, in Gwynedd, Wales, became a point of contention due to it featuring a large window that bares all.
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The popular holiday let has a huge 18ft window that was installed without planning permission.
Karl made an application for retroactive planning permission which quickly became a hot topic for disgruntled locals.
After a slew of complaints from furious neighbours after seeing too many guests in the buff, the owner of Plas Coch Barn, Karl Jones, has been ordered to tear it down.
Council officials slapped Karl Jones with an enforcement notice last month after the Airbnb was refused retrospective planning permission.
Now he has a month to submit an appeal in the next month or he will be forced to dismantle the flashy pad.
Fuming neighbours had taken to the council to complain about "rowdy visitors playing loud music" and noise pollution from a hot tub where nude holidaymakers hang out.
When the retroactive planning application was placed, swathes of villagers objected to it - protesting the "massive" and "horrendous" window.
One resident slammed the house as having a "harmful effect on a small, quiet area of rural Wales" and described a loss of privacy for residents.
They also mentioned congestion, litter and vandalism - issues that come with a popular rental.
Councillors also expressed voiced concerns about what would happen if they gave the Airbnb the go-ahead.
They believed that allowing someone to build what they want, despite complaints, and get away with planning permission would send the "wrong message."
Mr Jones insists that the local's grievances are "exaggerated and were unfounded".
Planning officer Keira Sweenie also backed up the Plas Coch Barn by pointing out that the lodging isn't overly large and met policy requirements, arguing there "was not a valid reason to refuse."
Janet Gayther, 82, whose home is overlooked by the giant window, said she frequently sees guests in their birthday suit - and it's making her life a "misery".
"I've seen all sorts," she told The Sun Online. "People coming out and getting in the hot tub without clothes.
"I've driven past in the car and visitors have been sprawled out in the nude on the sofa.
"They also climb in and out of the bath on the mezzanine floor."
The great gran added: 'There's the noise when they are having fun and games in the hot tub, having a drink and playing loud music.
"It's making my life a misery at times.
The elusive lodge can be reached only by a narrow road and is advertised as a 'haven of tranquillity' in the Welsh countryside.
Neighbours say they've had visitors knocking on their door at 1 am trying to find it.
And just a few months ago police were called when a lost couple disturbed the peace with an angry bust-up - seemingly because they were unable to find the accommodation.
"People sometimes can't find the place," Iain Burden, 61, said.
"If I had a quid for every time I had to direct people, I would be a millionaire.'
Visitors have been accused of failing to recycle and leaving locals to pick up armfuls of rubbish.
Michael Sharp said people "behave really badly" and that it's the luxury hot tub that seems to "provoke bad behaviour".
'We can hear the noise inside the house, even with the doors closed," the 72-year-old said.
"People are coming for a good time. We have had drones flying above our property.
"Some people are completely selfish and not community-minded.'
Mr Sharp told NorthWalesLive: "It just looks like some huge ocean liner all lit up in the night floating in the middle of the countryside. It's an alien structure, it bears no resemblance to the original barn.
"We would just like the thing knocked down.
"We accept that not everyone who comes to stay is a nuisance but a lot that do just seem to like loud music and making a lot of noise in hot tubs".
He dubbed the ordeal a "total nightmare" and begged the council to follow through with the enforcement notice.
In January, the owner was "given the opportunity" to try and resolve some of these complaints.
He was also asked to provide a report of how he had planned to alleviate complaints from neighbours - but "no information was submitted."
A council spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a letter was sent to residents by Aneurin Mon Parry as the Enforcement Team Leader.
"The enforcement notice is in effect and requires full compliance by October 2, 2025.
"However, the applicant does still have the right to appeal refused planning application C23/0463/18/LL within six months of the date of decision.
"The council will continue to monitor the situation."
The Sun has reached out to Cyngor Gwynedd council for a comment.
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