Builder Who Sneakily Built A Four Bedroom Bungalow Behind Trees is Ordered To Tear It Down
A builder has been told to tear down his four-bedroom bungalow after he illegally built it behind trees and bushes.
Steve Turley sold a six-bedroom house for £640,000 and secretly began constructing his new home on a piece of land across the road.
But neighbours complained to council chiefs about the bungalow, and Steve has been ordered to bulldoze it – even though it can’t be seen from the road.
If he doesn’t comply, he could be hauled before the courts.
Officers tried to visit the site in January but couldn’t get in so returned in May after sending a letter to the owner requesting access.
Forest of Dean District Council said: “The owner has constructed a new four bedroom bungalow attached to the existing outbuildings within the last 18 months.
“It appears that he has sought to conceal this within the site.
“An aerial photograph taken in 2014 clearly shows that the bungalow did not exist at that time. Planning permission has not been granted for this building.”
The builder also has a number of outhouses and portable cabins. IMAGE: SWNS
Planners also say a static caravan has been moved onto the land, portable buildings erected, sheds extended and clad to make them more residential and large areas concreted over.
The land was once part of his Yorkley Court Gatehouse, a six-bed family house with stunning views on the main road between Lydney and Yorkley, Forest of Dean, Glos.
But in 2015 it was put on the market with no onward chain and subsequently sold -without the land on the opposite side of the road.
Steve claims it is permitted because it has been there for some time – but officials say it’s a development they would not have approved because of its unsustainable location.
The report concludes: “It is therefore considered that the nature and character of the land has changed significantly from a rural character to that of an urban character.
“The works are considered totally out of keeping with the existing rural character.”
At Forest of Dean District Council, 11 councillors voted unanimously to issue an enforcement notice and approve court action if it was not complied with.
The notice gives the owner of the land various deadlines to cease the use of the land for residential purposes, demolish the authorised dwelling, outbuildings, concrete bases, remove the static caravan and portable building with associated fixtures, fittings and drainage and clear the site of any rubble.
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