Sarah Beeny Wins Eight-Year Planning Dispute Over Farmhouse

TV presenter Sarah Beeny has won an eight-year planning dispute over her Somerset farmhouse, with local council chiefs ultimately agreeing that the property does not need to be demolished. Beeny and her husband, Graham Swift, were previously served with a demolition order for the structure on their rural estate in Stoney Stoke, which they purchased in 2018.

The couple faced years of legal wrangling with planners. Beeny, known for her property programs, had initially received permission to demolish the original 1970s farmhouse and build a new one. However, instead of razing the existing property, Beeny and Swift extended it without planning permission. This retrospective application was refused in September 2024, and an appeal later lost in February, leading to an order for the building's demolition.

Local residents and the parish council expressed frustration with the prolonged dispute. Kevin Flint, a neighbor, stated that Beeny had created "a lot of bad feeling in the village" and felt she was trying to "ride roughshod over everybody." He compared the situation to that of Captain Tom Moore's daughter, who was required to demolish an unauthorized spa complex.

Shepton Montague Parish Council also criticized the council's eventual decision, arguing it undermined the credibility of its planning rules. They accused Beeny and Swift of attempting to circumvent regulations after building the property illegally.

However, Beeny's planning team, Avalon Planning & Heritage, identified a loophole. They submitted a new application to vary the conditions of an earlier approval that allowed for the conversion of agricultural buildings into five new dwellings. The revised proposal sought to build only four new houses and retain the original farmhouse. Jason Baker, Chair of Planning South (Somerset), approved this variation, citing the existence of a "fallback position" through the prior approval for five new dwellings.

Mr. Baker also commented positively on the farmhouse, noting its "ecological and sustainability benefits when considering embodied carbon and biodiversity matters." The approval includes a legal agreement to limit further development on the site. Representatives for Sarah Beeny were contacted for comment.