Homeowner Claims Council Misled Him, Costing Millions in Sale

Stephen Bailey, 70, claims he was advised by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council that his late parents' harborside home on the exclusive Sandbanks peninsula would not be granted planning permission for demolition and rebuild. This advice, Bailey alleges, significantly depressed the property's sale value.

Bailey put the six-bedroom house, which he and his three sisters inherited, on the market two years ago for £8 million. He stated that, like many properties on Sandbanks, the land value was expected to be the primary driver of the sale price, with the expectation that a new owner could demolish the existing structure. Neighbors, including former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp, have previously demolished and rebuilt their homes.

Bailey sought pre-application advice from BCP Council regarding the demolition of the 115-year-old house, located within the Sandbanks Conservation Area. He claims the council's planning officials indicated that permission was unlikely to be granted due to the property's location within the conservation zone. This message, he contends, was also conveyed to potential buyers, deterring offers.

After two years on the market, the asking price was reduced, and the house eventually sold in February for £5.7 million. Within months of the purchase, the new owners, David and Heidi Nash, submitted their own application to demolish the existing house and construct a modern residence. Despite an objection from the council's heritage officer, the planning department approved the Nashes' application.

Bailey expressed his frustration, stating, "How two-faced of them. That has absolutely cost us between £1 million and £2 million." He asserted that offers received when buyers believed demolition was possible were considerably higher than the final sale price.

Council planning officer Claire Moir, in her decision to approve the Nashes' application, noted that a significant portion of original buildings in the conservation area have already been altered or replaced. She concluded that the loss of this particular property would not harm the heritage asset's significance, especially given the extensive redevelopment of the shoreline and the precedent set by approved modern constructions, such as the neighboring property owned by the Redknapps.

The Nashes' planning agents, Pure Town Planning, highlighted on social media that they successfully navigated strong heritage objections to secure permission for a "stunning replacement family home."

BCP Council stated they were unable to comment on the matter. The property had been in Bailey's family since 1949, having previously belonged to his grandfather.