A pensioner has spent 14 years defying a council order to demolish his £500,000 home, built without planning permission on greenbelt land. Peter Dick, 77, has secured another reprieve after his latest court date was adjourned.
Mr. Dick constructed the red-brick chalet bungalow, named Longcroft, in West Parley, Dorset, in 2010. He was unsuccessful in obtaining retrospective planning permission in October 2012 and subsequently received a demolition order that December. He appealed this notice and the planning decision in 2013, but both were dismissed. Despite these rulings, Mr. Dick did not demolish the property. In 2019, he again ignored a legal order, asserting that the property should be protected under the European Convention on Human Rights, citing rights to a private life and protection from inhumane treatment.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council took Mr. Dick to court in 2021, where he was found guilty of failing to comply with the demolition order. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs. He was brought back to court in 2023 for an additional breach of the enforcement order, admitting to the offense and receiving a further fine of £7,500 and £3,269 in costs. It is unclear if these payments have been made.
The local authority initiated legal action for a third breach in July 2024. A trial date initially set for November 2024 was vacated, and a new date set for August 2025 was also adjourned. During a recent hearing, the case was again adjourned at the defense's request for more legal advice, despite Mr. Dick having had 20 months since entering a not guilty plea to secure representation. A new trial date has been scheduled for March 2027, 17 years after the bungalow's construction.
At a previous hearing, Mr. Dick stated that the bungalow was constructed to accommodate his wife, who suffers from degenerative muscular dystrophy, with its layout specifically designed for her needs. He and his wife continue to reside in the illegally built bungalow, which is fortified with an 8ft high padlocked gate and barbed wire.
On Mr. Dick's land, there is also a steel-clad industrial warehouse that was converted to residential use in 2003 and has since been declared lawful. He and his wife lived there prior to the construction of the bungalow. Last year, Mr. Dick's application to demolish this structure and replace it with a brick-built home was refused due to being inappropriate development harmful to the green belt.
Some neighbors have expressed indifference to the property, with one stating it does not cause harm and suggesting the council targets individuals over larger developers. BCP Council stated they could not comment on live court cases and denied an FOI request for further information, citing data protection and ongoing legal proceedings.
