An OAP couple have won their battle to stop a wealthy fund manager from demolishing the neighbouring house and rebuilding it as a luxury holiday home.
Pensioners David Wells, 92, and wife Ivy, 87, are separated by just a nine-inch thick party wall from their next door neighbour – city fund manager Naomi Clark.
Ms Clark, head of investment product management at USS, caused outcry in Burnham Market, Norfolk, over her plans to replace the property.
But yesterday (Dec 1) West Norfolk Borough Council rejected the plans as having ‘an unacceptable risk to the health, safety and wellbeing directly arising from the demolition’.
Overjoyed David said: « We’re over the moon, we might get a good nights sleep at last!
« I hope this is the end of it, we couldn’t take any more of this nonsense, it’s all been too much for Ivy and me. »
Burnham Market has been nicknamed « Chelsea-on-Sea » – dubbed due to its popularity with wealthy Londoners making it their base for second homes.
A report to West Norfolk’s planning committee earlier this month concluded the demolition and rebuild would be the ‘preferred option to fully upgrade the property to modern building standards’.
But the borough council ruled that there would be ‘significant and disproportionate interference’ to the Wells’ ‘respect to home and private life’.
The committee said the rebuild would ‘impair [the Wells’] ability to safely and comfortably occupy their home’ and they were ‘not satisfied the impacts could be adequately mitigated’.
Almost 450 objections were lodged by outraged locals who said the couple ‘should be allowed to live out their lives in their home, peacefully and stress free’.
The couple’s granddaughter Amy Nelligan added: « We are over the moon and so grateful to the council for voting for common sense and human decency.
« They said it was a heart vs head issue in planning but in fact both head and heart won the day.
« It was always a ridiculous idea to try to demolish one half of a semi detached pair especially when they are separated by a single 9 inch brick party wall.
« It was simply inhumane to put an elderly and vulnerable couple through such a prolonged and dangerous process.
« These last two months have been really tough especially on David and Ivy. We might all get a good night’s sleep at last.
« It really has felt like a David vs Goliath battle. »
A council officer’s report acknowledges Mr and Mrs Wells, who live at Number 12 feared noise, vibration, and dust from demolition and rebuilding would severely affect their health, causing stress, anxiety, and sleep loss.
But an engineer’s report has said Ms Clark’s home has « structural deficiencies including slight weaknesses to the roof, some bowing of walls and cracks ».
Ms Clark, who hopes to replace the property with a four-bedroom house, has pledged to do all she can to minimise disruption to the Wellses.
Ms Clark said previously: « Whilst we have been upset by how this narrative has played out online, we look forward to engaging fully with the planning process and will do everything we can to minimise disruption to our neighbours over the nine months estimated build time. »
Burnham Market Parish Council had also objected, saying: « Demolishing one half of the building would pose a significant risk of damage to the neighbouring house.
« An independent survey commissioned by the neighbours found no evidence of structural instability, indicating there is no structural necessity for demolition. »
The upmarket village on the coast near Wells had previously become a battleground over second homes and holiday lets, before locals voted in a neighbourhood plan stating any new development should be a permanent home.
It was heard at the meeting that Ms Clark could lodge an appeal against the decision.
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