Latest news with #planningdispute
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Milton Keynes City Council considers legal action over The Point
A council has revealed it is considering legal action over a decision to demolish a historic Keynes City Council had refused permission for Galliard Holdings Ltd to replace The Point, the first American-style multiplex cinema in the UK, with 487 flats in four tall authority had been concerned the design did not reflect the glass pyramid building, but inspectors sided with the developers after an Marland, Labour leader of the council, said: "I am most annoyed by the fact that the inspector gives almost no consideration to the heritage or culture of Milton Keynes." He claimed the council asked the developers to include The Point's red pyramid frame but they had not has been approached for comment. The inspector had described a suggestion the new buildings incorporate part of the pyramid's red frame as "tokenised" which Marland said was "outrageous".He continued: "I doubt [that] if this was a proposal to demolish a cultural landmark near some Regency-era listed buildings we would see the same snobbish attitude. "A generation of people, often the first generation to be born in Milton Keynes, grew up with The Point being the symbol of the city, and that is every bit as valid as what the Liver Buildings mean to the people of Liverpool or St Paul's to Londoners."Different, but every bit as valid". The Point opened in 1985 and was an attempt by the US company AMC to bring American-style cinema to UK the planning appeal the inspector noted: "it was the first of a number of multiplex cinemas planned in the UK".Inside were 10 screens, a number of restaurants, a disco and a bingo closed in 2015 and despite many campaigns to save the building or find a new use, it has not concluded: "We understand the current building is no longer fit for purpose and more could be done with the site, but this proposal is terrible in almost every single way. "No affordable homes, bad design, identikit flats and dismissive of the cultural importance of the current building to the people of this city." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Telegraph
Pensioner loses £280,000 planning row over inches of land
A judge has lambasted a pensioner's 'ridiculous' planning row over a few inches of space which landed her with a £280k bill. High Court judge Sir Anthony Mann told 81-year-old Christel Naish that her complaints over a tap and pipe 'don't matter' and added the row was a 'ridiculous piece of litigation'. Ms Naish sparked the feud seven years ago after claiming her neighbour's garden tap and pipe were 'trespassing' on the 'few inches' that separate their homes. Last year, a judge at the Mayors and City County Court, found neighbours Dr Jyotibala Patel and her husband innocent. However, Ms Naish escalated the row by launching an appeal – which was thrown out this week. During the appeal hearing, Sir Anthony Mann said: 'Hundreds of thousands of pounds about a tap and a pipe that doesn't matter. 'You don't care about the pipe and the tap, so why does it matter, for goodness' sake, where the boundary lies? It seems to me to be a ridiculous piece of litigation – on both sides, no doubt.' Sir Anthony ordered the pensioner to pay 65pc of her neighbour's legal fees, roughly £100k, which adds to the six-figure bill for her own costs. The appeal process added another £30k to her charge, the court heard. Dr Patel said she was 'terrorised' by the 'petty and vindictive' complaints which forced her and her husband to sue. The gap between Ms Naish and Dr Patel's houses in Ilford, east London, is too narrow for a person to comfortably fit through. Ms Naish originally lived in the home as a teenager with her parents, before moving back permanently in 2001 after the death of her father. Dr Patel and her husband bought the property next door 12 years later for £450k. The couple's barrister, Paul Wilmshurst, told the judge the dispute began after Ms Naish complained about the tap and pipe. He said the couple felt forced to sue after the 'blight' on their home's value caused by the dispute.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Miss Wales finalist who won £6m Omaze house still waiting to move in three months later
The winner of a £6m home is still waiting to receive their keys after an anonymous complaint has sparked a planning dispute. Vicky Curtis-Cresswell from south Wales, won the luxury house in Blakeney, Norfolk, in an Omaze and Comic Relief raffle in March, which raised more than £4m for the charity. The former Miss Wales finalist said at the time that she plans to sell the house and buy a property in Wales. But North Norfolk District Council has started an investigation into the home after an anonymous member of the public raised their concerns that it had not been built to the approved designs. Omaze has said it did submit a pre-application for the house and is now also submitting a retrospective planning application for the property. But while the dispute is ongoing, Ms Curtis-Cresswell is unable to access her prize. However, there is a possibility the plans could be refused by the authority, meaning it could take enforcement action and force the company to make changes. The planning documents appear to show the house was built larger than permitted, the BBC reported. It added that 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. An Omaze spokesperson said: '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." A North Norfolk District Council spokesperson said: 'At present 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.'
The Independent
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Omaze house winner left in limbo over prize home
Vicky Curtis-Cresswell won a £6m luxury house in Blakeney, Norfolk, through an Omaze and Comic Relief raffle in March. She is currently unable to access her prize due to an ongoing planning dispute initiated by an anonymous complaint. North Norfolk District Council is investigating concerns that the house was not built to approved designs, with reports indicating it is larger than permitted and includes unapproved tennis courts and a swimming pool. Omaze has submitted a pre-application and is preparing a retrospective planning application for the property. Omaze guarantees that house winners will not incur any costs to remedy historical planning issues and that all prizes are transferred with good title.
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The Independent
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Winner of £6m Omaze house still waiting for keys after anonymous complaint sparks planning row
The winner of a £6m home is still waiting to receive their keys after an anonymous complaint has sparked a planning dispute. Vicky Curtis-Cresswell from south Wales, won the luxury house in Blakeney, Norfolk, in an Omaze and Comic Relief raffle which raised more than £4m for the charity. The former Miss Wales finalist said at the time that she plans to sell the house and buy a property in Wales. But North Norfolk District Council has started an investigation into the home after an anonymous member of the public raised their concerns that it had not been built to the approved designs. Omaze has said it did submit a pre-application for the house and is now also submitting a retrospective planning application for the property. But while the dispute is ongoing, Ms Curtis-Cresswell is unable to access her prize. However, there is a possibility the plans could be refused by the authority, meaning it could take enforcement action and force the company to make changes. The planning documents appear to show the house was built larger than permitted, the BBC reported. It added that 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. An Omaze spokesperson said: '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." A North Norfolk District Council spokesperson said: 'At present 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.'
