Latest news with #Blakeney
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Beauty queen's £6m Omaze dream home could be partially demolished
Omaze is fighting to avoid having to demolish parts of a £6million home won for just £10 in a prize draw by submitting a retrospective planning application for areas that were built without approval. The dream home was offered in a link-up with the BBC to raise funds for Comic Relief , with backing from stars including Davina McCall , Lenny Henry and Rylan Clark . But discrepancies between the approved development and what had been built emerged before the sweepstake closed and plans to announce the winner live on the night were shelved. The winner, former Miss Wales finalist Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, is yet to receive the keys while the legal wrangle rumbles on. Omaze has now submitted the application, revealing the extent of the problems at stunning Larkside in Blakeney on the trendy north Norfolk coast – billed as its biggest ever prize draw. The three-bedroom mansion is designed in the style of the exclusive homes found in The Hamptons area of Long Island. The company has asked North Norfolk District Council if it can keep a single-storey extension to the eastern wing, a four-bay garage, summerhouse, tennis court with 'associated enclosure and landscaping' and outdoor swimming pool. All of these could end up being razed to the ground if the local authority's planning officials and councillors refuse permission. A council spokesman confirmed the retrospective application from Omaze was received on Tuesday. He added: 'The application is currently in the process of being validated. Once validated, all the relevant documents will be available to view on the public portal. 'If valid upon receipt, it is expected to appear on the portal as early as next week but will be longer if there are further requirements.' Local residents and other relevant local authorities will be able to comment formally once the plans are made available publicly. They will then be voted on by the council's planning committee at a later date. The council launched a probe in February – a month before Red Nose Day - after an eagle-eyed member of the public spotted potential issues with the property, which was built in 2020. If retrospective planning permission was not granted for the areas under scrutiny, Omaze could appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Ms Curtis-Cresswell, 38, has revealed she plans to sell the mansion – although the planning breaches have delayed her plans and threaten to affect its value. When she won, she was looking for a rental home while living with her husband Dale, 41, and young daughter at her in-laws' three-bedroom house in Wales. Speaking at the time, the 2008 Miss Wales entrant said: 'It's crazy. One week, we're worrying about our old car breaking down, the next thing we've got a £6 million house.' A £250,000 cash prize came with the 5,000 sq ft house, which has access to a secluded pontoon and has £165,000 worth of furnishings. Letting agents estimates it could be rented out for £5,500 per month. North Norfolk District Council concluded earlier this year that the property had 'not been completed in accordance with the approved plans' after an investigation which including a visit from officers. Jamie Minors, managing director of local estate agents Minors and Brady, said then: 'This will massively affect the chance of sale, as some people will be put off and will not want to buy it. It could also affect the value. 'Selling it will definitely be more difficult and challenging, as solicitors will definitely advise against it.' However, he added the high-end property market also attracted wealthy people who would 'try and find a way to resolve any problem'.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Omaze launch desperate bid to save luxury features of £6m home won for just £10 from demolition
Omaze is fighting to avoid having to demolish parts of a £6million home won for just £10 in a prize draw by submitting a retrospective planning application for areas that were built without approval. The dream home was offered in a link-up with the BBC to raise funds for Comic Relief, with backing from stars including Davina McCall, Lenny Henry and Rylan Clark. But discrepancies between the approved development and what had been built emerged before the sweepstake closed and plans to announce the winner live on the night were shelved. The winner, former Miss Wales finalist Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, is yet to receive the keys while the legal wrangle rumbles on. Omaze has now submitted the application, revealing the extent of the problems at stunning Larkside in Blakeney on the trendy north Norfolk coast – billed as its biggest ever prize draw. The three-bedroom mansion is designed in the style of the exclusive homes found in The Hamptons area of Long Island. The company has asked North Norfolk District Council if it can keep a single-storey extension to the eastern wing, a four-bay garage, summerhouse, tennis court with 'associated enclosure and landscaping' and outdoor swimming pool. All of these could end up being razed to the ground if the local authority's planning officials and councillors refuse permission. A council spokesman confirmed the retrospective application from Omaze was received on Tuesday. He added: 'The application is currently in the process of being validated. Once validated, all the relevant documents will be available to view on the public portal. 'If valid upon receipt, it is expected to appear on the portal as early as next week but will be longer if there are further requirements.' Local residents and other relevant local authorities will be able to comment formally once the plans are made available publicly. They will then be voted on by the council's planning committee at a later date. The council launched a probe in February – a month before Red Nose Day - after an eagle-eyed member of the public spotted potential issues with the property, which was built in 2020. If retrospective planning permission was not granted for the areas under scrutiny, Omaze could appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Ms Curtis-Cresswell, 38, has revealed she plans to sell the mansion – although the planning breaches have delayed her plans and threaten to affect its value. When she won, she was looking for a rental home while living with her husband Dale, 41, and young daughter at her in-laws' three-bedroom house in Wales. Speaking at the time, the 2008 Miss Wales entrant said: 'It's crazy. One week, we're worrying about our old car breaking down, the next thing we've got a £6 million house.' A £250,000 cash prize came with the 5,000 sq ft house, which has access to a secluded pontoon and has £165,000 worth of furnishings. Letting agents estimates it could be rented out for £5,500 per month. North Norfolk District Council concluded earlier this year that the property had 'not been completed in accordance with the approved plans' after an investigation which including a visit from officers. Jamie Minors, managing director of local estate agents Minors and Brady, said then: 'This will massively affect the chance of sale, as some people will be put off and will not want to buy it. It could also affect the value. 'Selling it will definitely be more difficult and challenging, as solicitors will definitely advise against it.' However, he added the high-end property market also attracted wealthy people who would 'try and find a way to resolve any problem'. The kitchen at the imposing house, which was built in the style of architecture found in Cape Cod and the Hamptons, boasts integrated appliances, a US-style fridge and an island with seating for four people Dining al fresco - but the views could change if features including the pool, tennis court and single-storey extension on the east wing have to be removed Omaze, a for-profit company founded in the US, buys luxury properties for prize draws and gives at least 17 per cent of proceeds to charities. Larkfields raised more than £4.1 million for Comic Relief. A spokesman said: 'Omaze continues to work with North Norfolk District Council in relation to recommendations made regarding the property in Norfolk - and has submitted a retrospective planning application. 'Omaze reiterates that it guarantees no house winner would ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue. 'Omaze further guarantees that all house prizes are transferred to winners with good and marketable title.'
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Omaze bids to end planning saga at £6m Blakeney prize home
The ongoing saga of a woman's wait for the keys to a £6m mansion she won has ramped up after retrospective plans for the luxury home were draw firm Omaze is fighting to avoid the demolition of parts of the house in Blakeney, on the north Norfolk coast, after various planning breaches were complications emerged prior to the house being won in March in the draw, part of the proceeds of which will go to now Omaze has lodged the required planning application with North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) in the hope of salvaging the situation. Former Miss Wales finalist Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, along with her husband and daughter, are still waiting for the keys to the property but Omaze has maintained it will cover any costs.A spokesperson for the company said: "Omaze continues to work with NNDC in relation to recommendations made regarding the property in Norfolk - and has submitted a retrospective planning application."Omaze reiterates that it guarantees no house winner would ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue."Omaze further guarantees that all house prizes are transferred to winners with good and marketable title."An NNDC spokesperson confirmed the retrospective application from Omaze was received on plans are an attempt to retain the single-storey extension added to the home's east elevation, as well as the swimming pool, tennis court, summerhouse and four-bay garage that were NNDC spokesperson added: "The application is currently in the process of being validated. Once validated, all the relevant documents will be available to view on the public portal."If valid upon receipt it is expected to appear on the portal as early as next week but will be longer if there are further requirements." Once the plans are made available publicly, they will be open to comments and scrutiny from local residents and the relevant local authorities, as is standard in the planning will then be considered and voted on by NNDC's planning committee at a later Curtis-Cresswell has said she intends to sell the house, having been searching for a rental property while living at her in-laws' three-bedroom house when she had won the buys luxury properties for its prize draws and raised more than £4m for Comic Relief through selling entries for the Blakeney for-profit company, founded in the US, gives at least 17% of the money raised through its prize draws to charities.A similar situation, not involving Omaze, played out just a few miles along the Norfolk coast in the village of Cley next the Sea, which led to a luxury house having to be End producer Adam Spiegel became embroiled in that lengthy planning dispute as the property was built larger than the approved designs, costing him millions of pounds. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Omaze house raffles are helping our Blakeney businesses'
Business owners in a small town where luxury homes have been won as raffle prizes say they have benefited from the publicity generated by the has held two prize draws featuring multi-million-pound mansions in Blakeney, Norfolk, both heavily promoted on television and online.A family that runs a local fish stall says the competition has "brought in more people" - and the director of a holiday homes letting company says the advertisements "show people the beauty of the area". In 2023, former paratrooper Daren Bell won a £4.5m home and the winner of a second property, valued at £6m, is still waiting to receive the keys due to unresolved planning breaches. Omaze, a for-profit company, partners competitions with charities and celebrity endorsements using a sweepstake system, offering large value homes as in 2012 in the US, it provides at least 17% of the money raised through its prize draws to charities. Mr Bell won the Blakeney through a £10 Omaze prize draw in 2023, and now lives there with his family. His home is just a short walk from the harbour, where the family-run fish stall, By The Quayside, has been part of the community for the past 17 Darby, 21, who works at the stall, has described Blakeney as a "hidden gem". She said the Omaze competition had "definitely brought in so many more people around the area". Tallulah first saw the advertising for the house raffle on TV and said she was thrilled to recognise her own town."It's quite amazing, because you only ever think of those competitions happening in places like Cornwall, Devon or London," she said. At least two members of her family bought tickets for the draw, which she described as a rare opportunity to win a home they "would never dream of being able to own".James Player, 41, the director of The Blakeney Cottage Company, said he was "very lucky to live here".His firm rents out holiday homes along the coast. He said the house raffles had been "marketed widely", showcasing "the beauty of the area". He added: "You have these beautiful drone shots over the salt marsh and things like that, which people are gonna really like and really draw people in."It is a little nudge, a little reminder of how nice it is and encourage them to come back."He said the competitions succeeded in "getting people living in houses"."One of the things that we hate around here is just houses sitting empty for months and months at a time," he added. The winner of the recent £6m home competition was still waiting to receive the keys because unresolved planning breaches had held up the transfer. Vicky Curtis-Cresswell said she felt "pure joy" after winning the property in Blakeney, Norfolk, in the Omaze and Comic Relief Omaze mansion looks across to Blakeney Point, a National Nature Reserve, where seals breed in winter and birds such as terns nest in spring. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Beauty queen who won luxury £6m mansion in £10 Omaze raffle is DENIED keys as neighbour sparks bitter planning row
A UK beauty queen has been denied the keys to her own £6m home following an anonymous complaint about its design. Former Miss Wales finalist, Vicky Curtis-Crewell, 38, won the luxury mansion in February when she was drawn from a £10 Omaze and Comic Relief raffle. 7 7 7 7 The house, however, has been under investigation after a member of public raised concerns in March about the design approvals of the home. Ms Curtis-Cresswell, originally from south Wales, described the "pure joy" she felt after winning the property in Blakeney, Norfolk. She entered the Miss Wales competition in 2008, where she became a finalist and also won Most Driven Contestant. But after winning the £10 Omaze raffle draw, Ms Curtis-Creswell said: "Our lives changed forever and we became multi-millionaires. "It's crazy, one week, we're worrying about our old car breaking down, the next thing we've got a £6 million house." She had been living at her in-laws' home and was hoping to find a property for her family. The mansion was the most expensive that has been given away in a UK prize draw, as the competition raised £4m for BBC's Comic Relief. It was modelled on the luxurious seaside villas of Long Island's Hamptons, with a tennis court and swimming pool. These features, however, are reported to not have planning permission, with the property also appearing to have been built larger than permitted according planning documents and photographs inspected. Omaze say these issues were not revealed during checks and surveys by the fundraising firm before the property was purchased. They added: 'Omaze continues to work with North Norfolk District Council in relation to recommendations made regarding the property in Norfolk. "Omaze has submitted a pre-application to the council and is submitting a retrospective planning application. 'Omaze reiterates that it guarantees no house winner would ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue. "Omaze further guarantees that all house prizes are transferred to winners with good and marketable title." North Norfolk District Council who are investigating the planning breaches of the home, which may have to face enforcement action and even rebuilding. A spokesperson for the council said: "We are waiting for an application to be submitted by the owners to try and regularise the current breaches of planning control. "We are expecting an application to be submitted by the end of this month." Ms Curtis-Cresswell has revealed she plans to sell the luxury mansion to instead buy a house in Wales for her family. Managing director of local estate agents Minors and Brady, Jamie Minors, has however said the planning problems are likely to significantly impact the property's chance of sale, as well as value. He said: "Selling it will definitely be more difficult and challenging, as solicitors will definitely advise against it." If rented out, the property could earn around £5,500 per month, but Ms Curtis-Cresswell has said: "I think we'll sell it to release the money and buy another amazing house somewhere in Wales." The 5,000 square-foot home came with a £250,000 cash prize, along with its summer house, all-weather AstroTruf tennis court, secluded pontoon, and £165,000 worth of furnishing. 7 7 7
