Two ‘eyesore’ bungalows could be knocked down after being built with no permission as neighbours slam ‘blatant abuse’

TWO "eyesore" bungalows built without permission could be knocked down after neighbours slammed "blatant abuse".

The owner of the bungalows on a farm near Peterborough has had three applications for planning permission turned down.

They converted the two homes from an old steel-framed barn on Lode Barn near Peterborough.

When they applied for retrospective permission, Huntingdonshire District Council turned them down.

The council had also refused two previous applications for permission.

It said the bungalows are located in a flood zone and could threaten highway safety.

One fuming villager said: "This is the third application for this site.

"It has been built and occupied for the best part of the last year without permission.

"If he keeps renewing his application no one will object as they don’t even know it’s there.

"This is blatant abuse of the planning system so I hope you will see it as such and once again reject this application."

Holme parish council also backed refusing planning permission for the barn conversion.

The parish council said: "The application states the alteration of a barn to form two dwellings. No alteration has been done.

"From the photos attached to the application it was clear that alterations to the barn were never possible.

"The application also states that this cannot be seen from a public road which is incorrect.

"It also says it is not within 20m of a watercourse. The properties are at most 12.8m away from a drain though.

"Would a drain be classified as a watercourse?"

The parish council added: "The application was made with disregard of planning rules. This is the second time the applicant has done this."

The owners now face a legal challenge from the council after unsuccessfully appealing to the Planning Inspectorate.

Inspectors visited the bungalows on February 26 before upholding the council's decision.

Mr J Pearce, of the Planning Inspectorate, said: "Given the quantum of works, I am not persuaded that the building was structurally capable of being converted.

"The development carried out is beyond what can reasonably be regarded as a conversion.

"I conclude that the building was not suitable for conversion to a residential use."

NO PLACE LIKE HOLME

Huntingdonshire Council said the site is near a fenland nature reserve and inside a flood zone.

The council’s planning officer said: "It is acknowledged that this proposal follows two applications for the same scheme.

"They have been determined and have been raised with the council’s planning enforcement team.

"The proposal has considered the scale and design of neighbouring residential properties.

"But the development would be out of context with the rural, green character of the application site.

"It would introduce residential development, hardstanding and other residential paraphernalia on this site.

"They would be out of character in the area and fail to recognise the intrinsic beauty of the countryside.

"The proposed development would result in inappropriate development in a high probability flood zone."