English presenter and entrepreneur Sarah Beeny is reportedly set to win an eight-year planning dispute concerning a farmhouse on her Somerset estate, referred to as 'mini-Downton Abbey.' The presenter had been ordered to demolish the structure, but a recent U-turn by the local council may allow her to keep it.
Ms. Beeny submitted a new planning application in April to retain the building, despite previous refusals and a lost appeal. Somerset Council is now considering approving the application, with the chair of the planning committee recommending that Beeny and her husband, Graham Swift, be permitted to keep the farmhouse. The chair noted that the building offers 'ecological and sustainability benefits'.
The conflict began shortly after the couple purchased their rural estate in Stoney Stoke, Somerset, for £3 million in 2018. They began a significant renovation, which drew criticism from local residents and the council. In 2020, they agreed to demolish the original 1970s farmhouse, which had been featured on Beeny's Channel Four show 'New Life in the Country.' However, instead of demolition, the building was extended over the following four years without the necessary planning permission.
Retrospective approval was refused in September 2024, and a Planning Inspectorate appeal was lost in February of the following year, leading to an order for the building's demolition. Ms. Beeny's planning team identified a potential loophole: they had previously obtained approval to convert five agricultural buildings into new dwellings. By submitting a new application to convert only four barns, they proposed to retain the original farmhouse.
Jason Baker, Chair of Planning South (Somerset), has written to the council's planning team, urging that the application be approved under delegated powers, allowing a planning officer to make the final decision. Baker stated that the application is considered acceptable due to the 'fallback position' of prior approval for five new dwellings. He explained that a legal agreement would effectively surrender one of the approved new dwellings in exchange for retaining the farmhouse.
Ms. Beeny's planning consultants, Avalon Planning & Heritage, have proposed a new Section 106 agreement, which they argue would grant the council greater control over future planning applications and limit development at the farm to existing structures or those with consent. They contend that retaining the existing dwelling aligns with the council's housing supply strategy and offers significant carbon savings compared to demolition.
Mr. Baker supported this view, highlighting the 'embodied carbon and biodiversity matters' and stating that the proposal does not adversely impact other material planning considerations. This potential resolution follows 18 months of discussions with the council, with officials having met with Ms. Beeny and Mr. Swift in December to agree on a timetable for implementation.
Despite the planning committee chair's recommendation, the Shepton Montague Parish Council remains opposed to the farmhouse's retention, criticizing the council's U-turn and what they perceive as a failure to enforce planning conditions. They have expressed disappointment at the applicants' continued failure to comply with a condition requiring the demolition of the existing dwelling and outbuildings.
Some local residents have voiced frustration, with one neighbor comparing the situation to that of Hannah Ingram-Moore, daughter of Captain Tom Moore, who was ordered to demolish an unauthorized spa complex at her home. The neighbor stated that the unauthorized buildings should be torn down and expressed a sentiment that Ms. Beeny was attempting to disregard local sentiment.