Latest news with #planningbreach
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Rivenhall incinerator to be investigated after complaint
Potential planning breaches at a new incinerator are to be firm Indaver has been accused of flouting its planning permission by not building a series of recycling facilities at the site in Rivenhall, near Witham in Essex.A company spokesperson said demand for waste processing was not high enough to warrant their councillor James Abbott claimed residents had been "played by the developers" and Essex County Council said it had opened an enforcement case after receiving a complaint. Plans for the incinerator were granted in 2010, but work only started in July 2021 after it received a permit to operate, due to commence on 4 was built with a 35m-tall (114ft) chimney and could take about 595,000 tonnes of black bin waste annually. The facility was supposed to integrate incineration with recycling, but Abbott said this was not possible if facilities for the latter were never built."They have built nothing at all, other than the incinerator," he said."They've come out with all the greenwashing slogans about sustainability but, as things stand, we're looking at just a waste incinerator without the benefits we were promised."The first truckload of waste was delivered to the site on 21 July. Concerns were raised by residents about smoke pouring out of the site in the following days, but Indaver said this was a "normal part" of heating up its new steam denied burning waste ahead of its permit coming into why the recycling facilities had not been built, the spokesperson said: "Building recycling facilities do not recycle more waste unless there is suitable waste available."We will add further waste treatment developments as the need is identified."They said a planning application had been submitted to build new bulky waste treatment, carbon capture and heat recovery plants, adding Indaver was committed to the conditions of its planning County Council said its inquiries into whether that permission had been breached continued. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
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
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Omaze winner still waiting for keys to £6m Blakeney house
The winner of a £6m home is still waiting to receive the keys because unresolved planning breaches have held up the transfer. Vicky Curtis-Cresswell said she felt "pure joy" after winning the property in Blakeney, Norfolk, in an Omaze and Comic Relief the house has been investigated by North Norfolk District Council after an anonymous member of the public raised concerns in March, that it had not been built to the approved Omaze spokesman said the company had submitted a pre-application to the council and was submitting a retrospective planning application as well. Originally from South Wales, Ms Curtis-Cresswell had been searching for a rental property for her family while living at her in-laws' home. The former Miss Wales finalist plans to sell the property and buy a house in prize draw raised more than £4m for Comic inspection of planning documents and photographs of the property appear to show it has been built larger than permitted, the Local Democracy Reporting Service says.A tennis court and swimming pool built at the property do not appear to have planning permission. Omaze said the planning discrepancies were not revealed during checks and surveys of the property before it was purchased. A spokesman said: "Omaze will transfer ownership of the property to the winner once all planning matters are resolved." To remedy the problems, the authority issued a series of recommendations which the company needed to action. A North Norfolk District Council spokeswoman 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."However, the retrospective permission could be refused, meaning the authority could take enforcement action and force the company to make changes. If the permission is refused, it could face a similar fate to a luxury home built by a West End producer in Spiegel, behind shows including Hairspray and The Mousetrap, was required to rebuild his home after a lengthy planning dispute when the property was built larger than the approved designs, costing him millions of pounds to rectify the problems. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Shock twist as former Virgin CEO to tear down $17m mansion
In a shock twist, the outgoing CEO of Virgin Australia plans to tear down a $17m home she bought just months ago, asking council to permit two planning breaches in the aftermath. Janye Hrdlicka – who has been assisting new Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson transition to the top job from mid-March – spent $16.9m buying a 1970s-era home at auction in September last year, which settled four days before Christmas. But just five months on, Ms Hrdlicka is seeking Noosa Shire Council approval to not just tear it down – but put in its place a stunning luxury home across three levels one of which is a basement, with two of its design elements requiring special exemptions from council. The first is the height of her planned dream build, with the Noosa Plan 2020 stipulating it should be two storeys – something Mr Hrdlicka seeks to get around by creating a basement level 'floor level L0' to house her gym and games room, with the first and second levels containing the kitchen, living and outdoor living, terrace and swimming pool areas on the upper ground floor; with the home also having a master bedroom, and three other ensuited bedrooms. Despite that, she will still be outside the stipulated height limit which sits at 8m, while her dream home design has a 600mm encroachment to sit at 8.6m. She is hoping council planner will allow her to build part of her roof line higher than the 8m height limit, with the application claiming it was 'not obscuring views from neighbours across the street or adjoining'. The second exception being called for is to let her go outside the Noosa Plan 2020 rules concerning her steeply sloping site. The council rules state that buildings and structures are not to be constructed on land with a slope greater than 33 per cent, but her proposed design touches a slope greater than 33pc – located in the northwest corner of the design next to the pool. The site's geotechnical investigation by Techtonic submitted with the application to council said plans for the steep slope and soil type in back sections will require extra protection and drilling down 5 to 6m below the finished ground level to put in a pile wall to protect the development including the pool. With those in place, it felt the design would work well. Zac Efron's Aussie long lunch haunt is on the market The block is in one of Noosa's most expensive streets because of the 180 degree views from Noosa National Park to Settlers Cove, Noosa Sound, Noosa River, Hastings St, Noosa Main Beach, Laguna Bay, right out to Double Island Point. The move comes two years after the death of her husband Jason Gaudin and almost three years since she sold up her Melbourne home for circa $18m to focus permanently on Queensland. Buyer of $12m mansion plans to give it away Ms Hrdlicka, who has had extensive experience across Qantas, Jetstar and other businesses before joining the Brisbane-based airline company, said in March that 'it has been a career highlight and a huge privilege to lead Virgin Australia'. 'I could not be more proud of how much we have achieved together as a team. Today, Virgin Australia is the most reliable airline, the most trusted and the most loved airline in the country and is delivering exceptional returns for its shareholders.'
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- News.com.au
Couple ordered to demolish dream home
A UK couple have been ordered to demolish their £1 million ($A2 million) dream home after they were found to have made a 'flagrant breach' of the rules. Jeremy and Elaine Zielinski were given permission to build a stallion semen collection centre and laboratory. The two-storey building was set to have a reception, office, kitchenette, 'analysis and lecture' lab, processing laboratory and staff changing room on the ground floor, The Sun reports. While the first floor would be a staff living space with two bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom, and a combined living/kitchen space. But instead the pair turned the property into a three-bedroom home overlooking the countryside in Great Abingdon, Cambridgeshire. The council got wind of the unauthorised house and ordered the duo to knock it down. The Zielinskis appealed the order, arguing it was excessive and the property could simply revert to the permitted use. But a planning inspector has thrown out their appeal, saying the couple 'constructed a dwelling from the off'. The pair were criticised for their 'clear and flagrant breach of planning policy'. Despite the judgement, Mrs Zielinski, 79, told the Daily Mail she and her husband didn't know they were breaking the law. 'We want to carry on living here. It's a warm and comfortable home. I love it,' the GP's receptionist said. 'It doesn't make sense to tear it down. I don't want to go and live in a caravan. If we are chucked out, we will be having to rely on the state. 'We would not have gone on and built this and put all our money into it unless we thought it was totally legal to do it.' Her husband, 73, added: 'I have not had a decent night's sleep in years and, from the moment when we got the first visit in 2020 [from council officials], life has been shaky … 'We have lost £1 million ($A2 million) overnight as a result of this decision. If we could have a semen clinic on the site it would be worth at least £1 million.' The couple bought a house with an outbuilding set on 17 acres of land for £100,000 in 1986. Planning permission was granted in 2014 by Greater Cambridge Shared Planning to build a replacement stable block and a specialist 'stallion semen' horse laboratory, with a small upstairs flat linked to the lab use. The plans were approved on the basis that it would be for a countryside business use, with the residential flat only to be used in connection with the laboratory use. Instead, the planning inspector said it was built and used solely as a residential house from the start. He said there was no lab or business running at the site, nor any evidence to show there ever was and that he house was a full home, not just a place for a worker to stay. He also pointed out that the owner had sold their original house on the site and moved into this new home. 'Photographs provided by the appellant in February 2022 in response to the Council's Planning Contravention Notice (PCN) show a complete absence of any laboratory space or research facility and that remained the case at the time of my accompanied site visit,' Inspector Chris Preston wrote. 'The ground floor has a decidedly residential appearance, with a domestic kitchen, equipped with kitchen units, cooker, island breakfast bar, with domestic furnishings and appliances. 'A dining area is present next to the kitchen in the space which was shown to house a kitchenette/container storage and distribution on the approved plans. 'Next to that, where the plans depicted an office, is a domestic living room. 'What appears to be an office is present to the front in what was shown on the plans as a reception area. 'Throughout, the ground floor is decorated and equipped in a manner that belies a residential use. 'There is no obvious reception area that would indicate use by customers of a business. 'No laboratory has been installed, no research or stored equipment associated with the business is apparent, either on the photographs from 2022 or at the time of my visit. 'Upstairs, where the staff accommodation was intended to be, there are two bedrooms, in the locations shown on the approved plans and a living area/ lounge, equipped with a sofa and television. 'However, no kitchen appears to have been constructed on the upper floor. In other words, the living space is clearly spread over the two floors, as would be the case in a typical house.' He said the council had been told the flat would be used by an additional worker, but in fact the appellant and his wife had since sold their existing house and moved into the new property. He added: 'The overriding impression is that what has been constructed is a dwelling house, occupied by the appellant and his wife, as opposed to a stallion semen collection centre/laboratory on the ground floor with residential accommodation above which is what the approved plans depicted.' He said there was also very little evidence that the stallion semen and collection business had 'ever got off the ground to any notable degree.' He added: 'The lack of any clear record of the semen collection and analysis business, when added to the evidence that the laboratory and associated storage and analysis areas were never constructed raises serious doubts as to whether the 2014 permission was implemented. 'If the pandemic did cause issues with the business, the logical thing to do, if implementing the approved planning permission, would have been to construct the building as permitted, with accommodation at first floor level and space for the laboratories etc at ground floor level, even if that led to a delay in installation of those facilities. 'What actually appears to have happened is that the appellant constructed a dwelling from the off. 'The Inspector agreed that knocking the house down was a proportionate and necessary measure as the local planning policies had been clearly broken, and keeping the building but just stopping people from living there alone would not be enough. Cllr Dr. Tumi Hawkins, Lead Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: 'We welcome the Inspector's clear decision, which supports our commitment to upholding planning policies in our Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan designed to protect our countryside. 'This case shows the importance of adhering to the specific uses and conditions that justify development in rural areas. 'Planning rules are there for a reason – including protecting our countryside, and this decision demonstrates that we will act when those rules are broken.' The house must be knocked down and all waste material removed by May 6 2026.
