Nottingham City Council has ordered social media influencer Annabelle Rogers to dismantle her luxury pergola after a neighbor's complaint, despite her efforts to make the structure mobile.
Rogers, who posts under the handle @bydesignermums and has over 632,000 Instagram followers, began building the elaborate pergola in her garden during the pandemic. The structure included seating, a fire pit, a swing, and a small stock tank pool. The cost of the build was just under £1,300.
Two years after its construction, Rogers received a report from a neighbor who objected to the permanent outdoor structure, citing its location within a conservation area. In response, Rogers and her husband redesigned the pergola, placing it on wheels to classify it as a 'non-permanent' feature.
However, a subsequent complaint led the council to issue a final order for the pergola's removal this autumn. Rogers expressed disappointment on Instagram, stating that she had sought to resolve the issue by making the structure portable. She plans to share the council's responses to her queries.
Her husband, David, described the situation as "farcical nonsense" and suggested that "karma" would eventually address the neighbor's actions.
Online reactions to Rogers' posts were divided. Some users criticized the council's decision and the neighbor's complaints, with one suggesting the planting of a forest as a countermeasure. Others defended the council and neighbors, emphasizing the importance of adhering to planning regulations, especially for properties in conservation areas or those that are Grade II listed. One commenter noted that buyers of listed properties should be prepared for restrictions on alterations.
In the UK, most pergolas do not require planning permission if they meet specific criteria: they must be under 2.5 meters in height, occupy less than 50% of the garden space, and not include a balcony, veranda, or raised platform over 0.3 meters. Structures exceeding these parameters may require formal approval.
This case draws parallels with a previous planning dispute involving Geri Halliwell-Horner and her husband Christian Horner, who were initially denied retrospective planning permission for an oak-framed pergola and gazebo at their Grade II listed home. Neighbors had raised concerns about the structures impacting the tranquility and views of their village. Planners ultimately approved the pergola, citing its siting, scale, and design as compatible with the area and preserving the character of the conservation area when screened with planting. The status of the gazebo remains undecided.