Victory for 'hobbit house' threatened with demolition after owners are finally told it can stay by Rachael Misstear
Reported in the excellent e-paper, Wales On Line, the unique house in Pembrokeshire was threatened with demolition but its owners have now won planning consent after appealing the council's decision
A beautiful “hobbit house” threatened with being torn down, and subsequently winning the support of more than 100,000 people across the world, has at last been told it can stay.
The couple who built it, as an alternative to the damp caravan they were living in, spent more than three years fighting against the demolition of their distinctive home in Pembrokeshire.
But the couple have now been told that planning inspector Kay Sheffield has allowed their appeal and that the house has finally been granted planning consent.
Future hung in the balance
The future of the turf-roofed roundhouse has hung in the balance since the couple were issued with a planning enforcement notice by Pembrokeshire Council.
Photo by Amanda Jackson
Megan Williams and Charlie Hague, both 27, created the turf-roofed house to live a self-sufficient lifestyle and bring up their young son, Eli, who is almost three.
Couple who won right to keep their 'hobbit house' now plan to celebrate their marriage there
Speaking of their excitement and huge relief, Meg said: “I literally just got an email confirming we can keep our home. I was just doing some paper work and I saw it.
"I’ve had to keep re-reading it. It’s been a really long, hard struggle and we’ve had to meet some really strict criteria under the One Planet Development.”
Building their home from scratch with their own hands, using only natural, local materials, they made a modest home on land adjacent to Charlie's parents' home.
But to their horror, they received a demolition notice from the council as they failed to apply for planning permission, but they fought it and won!!!
Wonderful news from Wales Online!!!!
So, read how they built it on Wales Online: (copy and paste)...
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/hobbit-house-couple-reveal-full-9678344?ptnr_rid=443808&icid=EM_WalesOnline_Nletter_News_Home_smallteaser_Text_Story4