A property valued at £1 million has been demolished in Great Abington, Cambridgeshire, after it was discovered to have been built as a residential home rather than the approved commercial horse-breeding clinic.
The property, constructed in 2017, was ordered to be torn down by council officers six years later. The decision was upheld by a planning inspector, and demolition work began in April, with the building now reduced to its foundations.
Owners Jeremy and Elaine Zielinski expressed bitterness over the council's ruling, which they stated cost them £1 million. They had received planning permission in 2014 for a countryside business that included a stallion semen collection center and laboratory on the ground floor, with a two-bedroom flat for staff on the first floor. Work on the property commenced in 2017.
According to the Zielinskis, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic hindered their business plans, leading them to move into the partially constructed property themselves while continuing commercial activities on their land. They claimed they were unaware they were breaking the law and that the building was constructed with the intention of complying with planning regulations by living upstairs and operating the business downstairs.
However, a planning inspector, Chris Preston, noted the property had a "decidedly residential appearance." He observed features such as a kitchen with an island breakfast bar, domestic furnishings, a dining area, living room, and a home office. The upstairs included two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and a lounge area equipped with a sofa and television. Preston concluded that the property had been built as a house from its inception, rather than being converted from the approved commercial space. He also found little evidence that the stallion semen collection business had become significantly operational, citing a single payment of £44 for laboratory fees with no indication of where the analysis took place.
Preston dismissed the owners' appeal, stating that the "clear and flagrant breach of planning policy and the associated harm arising" justified the intervention, deeming it proportionate despite interference with the couple's human rights. The Zielinskis had appealed, arguing that the order to demolish the entire building was excessive and would leave them homeless.
The couple arranged for a contractor to dismantle the building, allowing for the reuse of parts such as timber frames and windows, which helped reduce the cost of the demolition from an estimated £30,000. They had planned to sell their stables and land to fund a move to Thailand. Following the sale of the land and stables, they anticipated being left with approximately £350,000.
A council spokesperson confirmed that the foundations remain on site and must be removed to fully comply with the enforcement notice, stating that the council is continuing to review the matter and consider next steps.