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Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Airbnb owner forced to tear down 40ft-high ‘monstrous prison camp watchtower' after furious neighbours complained
The holiday let was purchased by a Sheffield-based property owner two years ago HOUSE THAT Airbnb owner forced to tear down 40ft-high 'monstrous prison camp watchtower' after furious neighbours complained Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN Airbnb owner has been ordered to tear down a massive 40ft-high "prison-camp watchtower" after furious neighbours complained. The "monstrous" structure was built at the £5,000-a-week holiday let in Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, without planning permission. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A structure built in the garden of an Airbnb let has been likened to a 'prison-camp watchtower' by angry neighbours Credit: Nick Whitmore/Daily Post Wales 2 It was built without planning permission leaving locals fuming Credit: Nick Whitmore/Daily Post Wales And fuming locals nearby say the eyesore addition is disturbing their day-to-day lives in a seaside town. Planning permission for the towering "garden room" was turned down last year. And neighbours are celebrating after another bid has now also been rejected by officials who say the tower must be removed. Nearby neighbour Nick Whitmore, 35, who lives with his partner and three young children said their "dream home" had been marred by the platform and cabin. Nick said: "It's advertised on Airbnb year-round, bringing noise, light pollution, and worse. "The impact on my partner, our three children, and our neighbours is horrendous. "The structure dominates our house and garden, as well as our neighbours'. It looks into my daughter's bedroom. He added: "We are a local, hard-working family with three children under the age of 10. "My partner and I worked very, very hard to buy our dream home, just up the road from the children's school, various public parks, with a bedroom for each of our children, and a nice garden for them to enjoy. "This has now been taken away from us as we back onto a busy Airbnb and, since Jan 2024, a building site." Eyesore scaffolding forced me to flog pints for £2.70 - it's decimated my trade The holiday let was purchased by a Sheffield-based property owner in December 2023. Neighbours reported the structure to the council and JAM Domestic Properties Ltd submitted a planning application - which was refused. The owners had described the 'breathtaking' £700,000 four-bedroom property as 'the epitome of luxury'. Nick said: "We alerted Conwy council who asked the company to stop work. "They did, and submitted a retrospective planning application, which was refused in June 2024 after numerous neighbour objections. "With no appeal by the 16 December 2024 deadline, we thought the council would follow through and move to enforce their own refusal. "We assumed relief was near. Instead, two weeks ago, earlier in March 2025, the owner submitted a near-identical planning application. "We've now endured over 15 months of this situation, with Conwy sitting on their hands while local families and residents suffer daily." Families living next-door are furious at the13m high 'concrete plateau' giving clear views into their properties and blighting their lives. Work on the tower - which would provide panoramic views of the village and neighbouring Penrhyn Bay - began last year, only to be paused when a planning application was turned down. The holiday rental - called Gardd y Llys - is a contemporary property in one of the most upmarket residential areas of Rhos-on-Sea. 'OVERBEARING' Neighbours Stephen and Hazel Walburn also wrote a letter of objection to the council. "The cabin is 13m above our main living area and certainly feels to us to be out of character and overbearing," they wrote. "Its scale and appearance are unlike other garden buildings in the area. It fails to enhance the local environment, commanding attention not unlike a prison camp watchtower." They added: "It dominates the roofscape and is alien and incongruous." Conwy council said: "An enforcement notice has been served which requires the removal of the structure." The notice was served on 17 June and the developer has been given 10 weeks from that date to launch an appeal. The application by JAM Domestic Properties read: "Views from the raised platform into neighbouring properties were recognised as being available from the initial planning consent. "The proposed development is not considered to lead to an acceptable increase to this and is not considered to have a detrimental impact on privacy or residential amenity to neighbouring properties, and therefore would be acceptable on this basis." A Conwy Council spokeswoman previously said: "Planning permission was granted in 2016 for a smaller garden structure on this site. "In February 2024, it was brought to our attention that a larger outbuilding was being constructed. "Following an investigation by the planning enforcement officer, the owners agreed to cease work and to submit a planning application to regularise the work.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Airbnb owner forced to tear down 40ft-high ‘monstrous prison camp watchtower' after furious neighbours complained
AN Airbnb owner has been ordered to tear down a massive 40ft-high "prison-camp watchtower" after furious neighbours complained. The "monstrous" structure was built at the £5,000-a-week holiday let in Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, without planning permission. 2 2 And fuming locals nearby say the eyesore addition is disturbing their day-to-day lives in a seaside town. Planning permission for the towering "garden room" was turned down last year. And neighbours are celebrating after another bid has now also been rejected by officials who say the tower must be removed. Nearby neighbour Nick Whitmore, 35, who lives with his partner and three young children said their "dream home" had been marred by the platform and cabin. Nick said: "It's advertised on Airbnb year-round, bringing noise, light pollution, and worse. "The impact on my partner, our three children, and our neighbours is horrendous. "The structure dominates our house and garden, as well as our neighbours'. It looks into my daughter's bedroom. He added: "We are a local, hard-working family with three children under the age of 10. "My partner and I worked very, very hard to buy our dream home, just up the road from the children's school, various public parks, with a bedroom for each of our children, and a nice garden for them to enjoy. "This has now been taken away from us as we back onto a busy Airbnb and, since Jan 2024, a building site." The holiday let was purchased by a Sheffield-based property owner in December 2023. Neighbours reported the structure to the council and JAM Domestic Properties Ltd submitted a planning application - which was refused. The owners had described the 'breathtaking' £700,000 four-bedroom property as 'the epitome of luxury '. Nick said: "We alerted Conwy council who asked the company to stop work. "They did, and submitted a retrospective planning application, which was refused in June 2024 after numerous neighbour objections. "With no appeal by the 16 December 2024 deadline, we thought the council would follow through and move to enforce their own refusal. "We assumed relief was near. Instead, two weeks ago, earlier in March 2025, the owner submitted a near-identical planning application. "We've now endured over 15 months of this situation, with Conwy sitting on their hands while local families and residents suffer daily." Families living next-door are furious at the13m high 'concrete plateau' giving clear views into their properties and blighting their lives. Work on the tower - which would provide panoramic views of the village and neighbouring Penrhyn Bay - began last year, only to be paused when a planning application was turned down. The holiday rental - called Gardd y Llys - is a contemporary property in one of the most upmarket residential areas of Rhos-on-Sea. 'OVERBEARING' Neighbours Stephen and Hazel Walburn also wrote a letter of objection to the council. "The cabin is 13m above our main living area and certainly feels to us to be out of character and overbearing," they wrote. "Its scale and appearance are unlike other garden buildings in the area. It fails to enhance the local environment, commanding attention not unlike a prison camp watchtower." They added: "It dominates the roofscape and is alien and incongruous." Conwy council said: "An enforcement notice has been served which requires the removal of the structure." The notice was served on 17 June and the developer has been given 10 weeks from that date to launch an appeal. The application by JAM Domestic Properties read: "Views from the raised platform into neighbouring properties were recognised as being available from the initial planning consent. "The proposed development is not considered to lead to an acceptable increase to this and is not considered to have a detrimental impact on privacy or residential amenity to neighbouring properties, and therefore would be acceptable on this basis." A Conwy Council spokeswoman previously said: "Planning permission was granted in 2016 for a smaller garden structure on this site. "In February 2024, it was brought to our attention that a larger outbuilding was being constructed. "Following an investigation by the planning enforcement officer, the owners agreed to cease work and to submit a planning application to regularise the work.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Airbnb owner is ordered to tear down 40ft 'prison camp watchtower' from his garden after neighbour complained
An Airbnb owner has been ordered to tear down a 'monstrous' 40ft structure likened to a 'prison-camp watchtower' after furious protests from neighbours. The 'overbearing' structure - intended to provide panoramic views of the village - was built at the £5,000-a-week holiday let without planning permission, leading to nearby residents feeling infuriated. Planning permission for the towering 'garden room' was turned down last year and now another bid has been rejected, with officials saying the tower at Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, must be removed. Nick Whitmore, 35, who lives with his partner and three young children, said their 'dream home' had been marred by the platform and cabin. Nick said: 'It's advertised on Airbnb year-round, bringing noise, light pollution, and worse. The impact on my partner, our three children, and our neighbours is horrendous. 'The structure dominates our house and garden, as well as that of our neighbours. It looks into my daughter's bedroom. He added: 'We are a local, hard-working family with three children under the age of 10. My partner and I worked very, very hard to buy our dream home, just up the road from the children's school, various public parks, with a bedroom for each of our children, and a nice garden for them to enjoy. 'This has now been taken away from us as we back onto a busy Airbnb and, since Jan 2024, a building site.' Residents were left feeling infuriated by the 'overbearing' tower built at the rental property The holiday let was purchased by a Sheffield-based property owner in December 2023. Neighbours reported the structure to the council and JAM Domestic Properties Ltd submitted a planning application - which was refused. The owners had described the 'breathtaking' £700,000 four-bedroom property as 'the epitome of luxury'. Nick said: 'We alerted Conwy council who asked the company to stop work. 'They did, and submitted a retrospective planning application, which was refused in June 2024 after numerous neighbour objections. 'With no appeal by the 16 December 2024 deadline, we thought the council would follow through and move to enforce their own refusal. 'We assumed relief was near. Instead, two weeks ago, earlier in March 2025, the owner submitted a near-identical planning application. 'We've now endured over 15 months of this situation, with Conwy sitting on their hands while local families and residents suffer daily.' Families living next-door are furious at the 13m-high 'concrete plateau' giving clear views into their properties and blighting their lives. Work on the tower - which would provide panoramic views of the village and neighbouring Penrhyn Bay - began last year, only to be paused when a planning application was turned down. The holiday rental - called Gardd y Llys - is a contemporary property in one of the most upmarket residential areas of Rhos-on-Sea. Neighbours Stephen and Hazel Walburn also wrote a letter of objection to the council. 'The cabin is 13m above our main living area and certainly feels to us to be out of character and overbearing,' they wrote. 'Its scale and appearance are unlike other garden buildings in the area. It fails to enhance the local environment, commanding attention not unlike a prison camp watchtower.' They added: 'It dominates the roofscape and is alien and incongruous.' Conwy council said: 'An enforcement notice has been served which requires the removal of the structure.' The notice was served on 17 June and the developer has been given 10 weeks from that date to launch an appeal. The application by JAM Domestic Properties read: 'Views from the raised platform into neighbouring properties were recognised as being available from the initial planning consent. 'The proposed development is not considered to lead to an acceptable increase to this and is not considered to have a detrimental impact on privacy or residential amenity to neighbouring properties, and therefore would be acceptable on this basis.' A Conwy Council spokeswoman previously said: 'Planning permission was granted in 2016 for a smaller garden structure on this site. 'In February 2024, it was brought to our attention that a larger outbuilding was being constructed.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Airbnb owner ordered to tear down 40ft 'prison-camp watchtower' in neighbour row
The 'monstrous' structure was built at the £5,000-a-week holiday let but local officials have rejected permission for it and it must be torn down to the delight of neighbours An Airbnb owner has been ordered to tear down a massive 40ft-tall "prison-camp watchtower" following a row with neighbours. The "monstrous" structure was built at the £5,000-a-week holiday let without planning permission with furious neighbours said it's disturbing their day-to-day lives in a seaside town. Planning permission for towering "garden room" was turned down last year. Now neighbours are celebrating after another bid was rejected by officials who said the tower at Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, must be removed. Nearby neighbour Nick Whitmore, 35, who lives with his partner and three young children said their "dream home" had been marred by the platform and cabin. Nick said: "It's advertised on Airbnb year-round, bringing noise, light pollution, and worse. The impact on my partner, our three children, and our neighbours is horrendous. "The structure dominates our house and garden, as well as our neighbours'. It looks into my daughter's bedroom." He added: "We are a local, hard-working family with three children under the age of 10. "My partner and I worked very, very hard to buy our dream home, just up the road from the children's school, various public parks, with a bedroom for each of our children, and a nice garden for them to enjoy. This has now been taken away from us as we back onto a busy Airbnb and, since Jan 2024, a building site." The holiday let was purchased by a Sheffield-based property owner in December reported the structure to the council and JAM Domestic Properties Ltd submitted a planning application - which was refused. The owners had described the 'breathtaking' £700,000 four-bedroom property as 'the epitome of luxury'. Nick said: "We alerted Conwy council who asked the company to stop work. They did, and submitted a retrospective planning application, which was refused in June 2024 after numerous neighbour objections. "With no appeal by the 16 December 2024 deadline, we thought the council would follow through and move to enforce their own refusal. We assumed relief was near. Instead, two weeks ago, earlier in March 2025, the owner submitted a near-identical planning application. "We've now endured over 15 months of this situation, with Conwy sitting on their hands while local families and residents suffer daily." Families living next-door are furious at the13m high 'concrete plateau' giving clear views into their properties and blighting their lives. Work on the tower - which would provide panoramic views of the village and neighbouring Penrhyn Bay - began last year, only to be paused when a planning application was turned down. The holiday rental - called Gardd y Llys - is a contemporary property in one of the most upmarket residential areas of Rhos-on-Sea. Neighbours Stephen and Hazel Walburn also wrote a letter of objection to the council. "The cabin is 13m above our main living area and certainly feels to us to be out of character and overbearing," they wrote. Its scale and appearance are unlike other garden buildings in the area. It fails to enhance the local environment, commanding attention not unlike a prison camp watchtower." They added: "It dominates the roofscape and is alien and incongruous." Conwy council said: "An enforcement notice has been served which requires the removal of the structure." The notice was served on 17 June and the developer has been given 10 weeks from that date to launch an appeal. The application by JAM Domestic Properties read: "Views from the raised platform into neighbouring properties were recognised as being available from the initial planning consent. The proposed development is not considered to lead to an acceptable increase to this and is not considered to have a detrimental impact on privacy or residential amenity to neighbouring properties, and therefore would be acceptable on this basis." A Conwy Council spokeswoman previously said: "Planning permission was granted in 2016 for a smaller garden structure on this site. In February 2024, it was brought to our attention that a larger outbuilding was being constructed. Following an investigation by the planning enforcement officer, the owners agreed to cease work and to submit a planning application to regularise the work.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Conwy Airbnb host ordered to tear down 'prison watchtower'
Owners of an Airbnb have been told to tear down what neighbours dubbed a "prison camp watchtower" in their "monstrous" tower was built without planning permission in January 2024 in the garden of a holiday let on Tan y Bryn Road, Rhos-on-Sea, Conwy sparked fury from neighbours who claimed the structure was blighting their day-to-day Domestic Properties Ltd submitted a number of retrospective planning applications to try to retain the "garden room", but these were refused. Conwy council said: "An enforcement notice has been served which requires the removal of the structure."The Local Democracy Reporting Service has been told that the order took effect on 17 June, with the developer given 10 weeks from that date to launch an appeal. Nick Whitmore, 35, who moved on to Tan y Bryn with his family in 2021, said the structure compromised their quality of life."It dominates our property and our neighbours," he explained. "[My family] can't even sit at their breakfast table without it being overlooked, and it is the same for lots of other houses in the locality."We are looking forward to the structure coming down."It will mean we no longer have such a dominating and intrusive structure, which is so overbearing, looking over our garden or our neighbours' gardens."Another neighbour previously said the structure was "commanding attention not unlike a prison camp watchtower". An application by JAM Domestic Properties to retain the structure read: "Views from the raised platform into neighbouring properties were recognised as being available from the initial planning consent."The proposed development is not considered to lead to an acceptable increase to this and is not considered to have a detrimental impact on privacy or residential amenity to neighbouring properties, and therefore would be acceptable on this basis."The firm declined to comment on the enforcement notice.
