A COUPLE have been forced to give up their £1.8million dream home because a disgruntled neighbour complained they were ‘too noisy’.
Victoria and Richard Kerrison have quit their picturesque countryside Norfolk mansion after a bitter row with their local council.
It comes after they converted their barn house into two holiday cottages, which sleep up to 20 people.
The pair were stunned after being told their luxury pad, and business were being ripped away from them after a single noise complaint.
The frustrated neighbour, Helen Crawley, reported loud music and children playing.
North Norfolk District Council investigated and then uncovered the couple did not have the correct planning permission to use their Roundabout Farm as a holiday let business.
But Victoria and Richard have forked out an eye-watering £90,000 in legal fees fighting to keep their livelihood.
And, they have been bolstered by support from another neighbour, Lady Anwen Hurt – widow of acting legend John Hurt.
Victoria, 62, said: “One person’s opinion and a swipe of the pen has written us off.
“We’ve spent all this time building up a really good and solid business and we worked hard to keep it going.”
They set up their bed and breakfast in 2007 after renovating the farm and creating a barn conversion offering “peace and tranquility” for their guests.
Courtyard Barn and Pear Tree were up for £800 per night – which the couple were given permission for.
However, the site also has a bed and breakfast called The Orangery.
Officials claimed The Orangery should only be used as an extension to Pear Tree and not a holiday let on its own.
The bitter row was sparked in 2019 when Helen moaned her water supply had dwindled due to their business.
She also complained to the council, claiming she was fed up listening to doors slamming, children playing and loud music.
According to North Norfolk District Council, they investigated and also found the countryside rentals were operating without the required planning permission.
Victoria said: “It all started with a letter from the council when they said it had been reported to them that someone was living unlawfully on the Farm.
“There has been no contravene of planning – thousands of people in the UK rent out their houses as an Air BnB.
“There were three meetings through an enforcement panel and all of those meetings ended with: ‘Do not have enough evidence to enforce’.
“The last meeting was two weeks before it was enforced. We had no idea it would go this far.
“When the council originally said there has been a complaint, we were really surprised.”
The authority had previously ruled that Courtyard Barn had been used for both residential and holiday let purposes for the last 10 years and was therefore “immune” from enforcement action.
The couple created their own rules for guests, including none outside after 10pm, to try and appease their neighbour.
And, they also moved the hot tub further away from Mrs Crawley’s land.
The Planning Inspectorate delivered their verdict on the Kerrisons’ appeals in May and the couple were told they could continue using the ‘Office’ as their home.
The Planning Inspectorate also dismissed the claim that the Orangery area could not be used as a separate bed and breakfast.
However, the Kerrisons were told that the Courtyard Barn had breached planning rules and they were told to cease using it as a holiday let by November.
The couple decided to sell up and move due to the ruling which shot down a major source of their revenue.
They said: “We have to think: can we afford to still live here or do we move away? It is sad that you can have your life wiped out like that.
“If we can sell, we will go. But if not, we’ll have to rethink what we’re doing next.
“We could consider a short term tenancy agreement for the converted barn. But that’s okay as long as you get the right neighbours.”
Roundabout Farm is currently on the market for £1,850,000.
A council spokesperson said the area shouldn’t be home to these kind of developments because the countryside needs to be considered.
They said: “The appeal site is deemed to be considered as the countryside where development is restricted to particular types of development to support the rural economy, meet affordable housing needs and provide renewable energy.”
A local planning authority can invite a retrospective application, according to Gov.uk.
You should submit your application without delay.
Although a local planning authority may invite an application, you must not assume permission will be granted.
A person who has undertaken unauthorised development has only one opportunity to obtain planning permission after the event. This can either be through a retrospective planning application or an appeal against an enforcement notice – on the grounds that planning permission should be granted or the conditions should be removed.
The local planning authority can decline a retrospective planning application if an enforcement notice has previously been issued.
No appeal may be made if an enforcement notice is issued within the time allowed for determination of a retrospective planning application
