I was banned from building treehouse at my home because authorities say it will ruin seaside resort – I’m fighting back
A MAN is fighting back after he was banned from building a treehouse at his home - because authorities say it will ruin a seaside resort.
Nick Horn was told that his hideaway would "fail to enhance" Snowdonia in north Wales.
He bought a remote 65-acre farm near the seaside resort of Harlech in the national park five years ago.
The psychologist planned to host up to four guests at a time in a treehouse based on "traditional Celtic roundhouses" and boasting a "wildflower roof".
But the Snowdonia National Park Authority blocked the treehouse as an "inappropriately designed development".
The authority said: "The proposal introduces a new large-scale, inappropriately designed development within the open countryside.
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"It is considered to be an inappropriate form of development which fails to enhance or conserve the ‘Special Qualities’ of the Eryri National Park.
"It will have a detrimental impact on the character of the wider landscape."
But architects Crown and Canopy said "sustainability and ecological sensitivity is central to the design ethos".
The firm added: "All structural timber will be sustainably sourced from a woodland near Dolgellau where it is grown and processed.
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"The walls will be timber clad and use wood fibre insulation.
"The roofs will use a semi-intensive wildflower turf system to provide habitats for pollinating insects, and will be well insulated with sheep’s wool.
"The windows provide generous natural lighting to the spaces and views towards the dramatic coastline and hills."
The architects said the "rustic yet modern" treehouse would "blend easily into the surroundings" while being screened by trees.
It comes as fuming neighbours have gone to war against the daughter of lockdown hero Captain Tom Moore over her illegal £200,000 pool house.
The National Park Authority said: "A planning application for the erection of a treehouse holiday unit failed to meet the requirements of various local and national planning policies and was therefore refused permission.
"There were numerous grounds for refusal, including failure to prove that the proposed development formed part of a farm diversification scheme to subsidise the income of a small holding, as required by the Eryri Local Development Plan.
"One of the National Park Authority’s statutory purposes is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park.
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"This development was deemed an inappropriate form of development as it would fail to conserve and enhance the special qualities of the National Park and would have a detrimental impact on the character of the landscape.
"The applicant is now free to appeal the decision through the Planning Inspectorate should he disagree with our decision."
