English presenter and entrepreneur Sarah Beeny appears close to resolving an eight-year planning dispute concerning an unauthorized farmhouse extension at her Somerset estate, often referred to as 'mini-Downton Abbey.' After being initially ordered to demolish the structure, the council is now leaning towards granting permission for its retention.
Beeny submitted a new planning application in April to keep the building, despite previous refusals and a failed appeal. Somerset Council has now recommended approving the application, with the planning chair highlighting the farmhouse's "ecological and sustainability benefits."
The controversy began after Beeny and her husband, Graham Swift, purchased the rural estate in Stoney Stoke, Somerset, for £3 million in 2018. They initiated a significant overhaul of the property, which drew criticism from local residents and, until this recent development, the council.
In 2020, the couple 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 without planning permission over the subsequent four years.
Retrospective approval was denied in September 2024, and a subsequent appeal to the Planning Inspectorate was lost in February of the same year. The couple was instructed to tear down the building.
Beeny's planning team reportedly identified a potential solution. Having secured approval to convert five agricultural buildings into new dwellings, they submitted a fresh application proposing to retain the original farmhouse if only four barns were converted, thus creating a 'fallback position.' The Chair of Planning South (Somerset), Jason Baker, has advocated for the application to be determined under delegated powers, allowing a planning officer to make the final decision.
Baker stated that the application is considered acceptable due to the existing approval for five new dwellings, where one would be surrendered in exchange for retaining the farmhouse. A legal agreement is in place to limit future development on the farm to existing structures or those with consent.
Beeny's representatives argue that retaining the existing dwelling aligns with the council's housing supply strategy and offers significant carbon savings compared to demolition. They also cited embodied carbon and biodiversity matters as benefits, with Baker commending Beeny for environmental considerations.
The potential resolution marks a significant shift after 18 months of discussions. While the district council is expected to approve the scheme, the Shepton Montague Parish Council remains opposed, criticizing the council's U-turn and the perceived lack of enforcement. They have urged the refusal of the application and the enforcement of the original condition requiring demolition.
Local resident Kevin Flint expressed frustration, stating that the unauthorized extensions have caused significant discord in the village and that the couple should not be allowed to disregard local regulations. The situation has drawn comparisons to the case of Hannah Ingram-Moore, daughter of Captain Tom Moore, who faced orders to demolish an unauthorized spa complex built at her home.