Alert – Wealthy landowner must demolish his £500,000 illegally-built home hidden behind hedges in field… after he was caught when the glass roof ‘lit up like a Christmas tree’ at night and neighbours complained it looked ‘like an alien invasion from Mars’

A wealthy landowner has been ordered to demolish his illegally built £500,000 home hidden by hedges in a field after it ‘lit up like a Christmas tree’ at night.

Tony Harvey failed to obtain planning permission when he self-built the contemporary family home near Glastonbury, Somerset.

The controversial property sits on agricultural land above the rural hamlet of West Compton. It is a single storey barn-style property that Mr Harvey believes is in keeping with the countryside location.

But its sudden appearance sparked complaints from villagers who said its large glazed windows ‘lit up like a Christmas tree’ at night when the lights were turned on.

One neighbour complained of light pollution coming from the property, adding: ‘When he puts the lights on it is lit up and looks like an alien invasion from Mars.’

It was also claimed the building has redirected the water run-off from the field onto the road – making for dangerous driving conditions when the water freezes in cold weather. 

Mr Harvey, a motor mechanic who runs a successful garage, was visited by local council officials 12 months ago who pointed out that the building was illegal.

An aerial view of the house above the rural hamlet of West Compton near Shepton Mallet in Somerset which was built without planning permission

West Compton villagers, Stuart Vaughan, Liz Mayhew and her husband Mike. Mr Vaughan said: ‘[The house] is very much visible to the whole of West Compton’ 

He applied for two retrospective planning permissions to retain the two bed home as either a residential dwelling or an agricultural workers dwelling.

Both of these applications were rejected by planners at Somerset Council, who served an enforcement notice on Mr Harvey, stating he had to demolish the house within six months.

He has since appealed against the notice and the matter will now be referred to the planning inspectorate to decide upon.

The planning row has split the local community. While the majority of residents in West Compton are opposed to Mr Harvey’s unlawful home, he has the support from people in nearby Shepton Mallet where his business is based.

One of his supporters said the objection ‘stinks of nimbyism’. 

Harriet Ray, who lives in the Manor House in West Compton, expressed privacy fears over the property. 

She said: ‘The building is in a prominent position on the summit of the hill and overlooks the houses and gardens of West Compton residents, causing a lack of privacy both in summer and winter. At night the property is lit up like a Christmas tree so that the skyline is dominated by lights from the building.

‘My own feelings are that it is wrong to build something without planning permission. We all have to get planning permission. If I wanted to put up stables for my horses I would have to.

‘Why should he get away with it?’ 

The controversial property sits on agricultural land above the rural hamlet of West Compton

Local resident Mr Vaughan said: ‘Because of where it is, the building has changed the contours around the property and there is a lot of water now running off the field into the road’ 

Stuart Vaughan, 77, said: ‘He has built a fairly fancy building which has fantastic views. But it is very much visible to the whole of West Compton because it is on top of the ridge.

‘It has got glass overlooking these fantastic views. There are no street lights in West Compton and no light pollution so when he puts the lights on it is lit up and it looks like an alien invasion from Mars.

‘Because of where it is, the building has changed the contours around the property and there is a lot of water now running off the field into the road.

‘When the planning application was refused the planning officer wrote a very strong summary about it being completely inappropriate.

‘He would be mad not to appeal the decision to demolish it. He probably spent £60,000 building it and it is probably worth £500,000 now.

‘But if the authorities don’t enforce it then people will ride roughshod over planning laws.’

One of the arguments made by Mr Harvey for allowing the property was that he was a local employer who needed to remain in the area.

But local resident Dr Michael Mayhew said: ‘I have lived in this location since 1999 and I have never met Mr. Harvey. If he truly had a good connection with the village this would not be the case.’

He added that the location for this residence was ‘not in the least friendly to walkers or cyclists and is not a location that should be encouraged or permitted for residence for a young family.’

The property is a single storey barn-style property that Tony Harvey believes is in keeping with the countryside location

The property is surrounded by beautiful green fields and areas of woodland 

Although Mr Harvey refused to make any comment on the matter when approached, his planning agent has stated the property benefits the area.

James Whilding, managing director of Acorus Rural Property Services Limited, said in a planning report: ‘The design seeks to provide housing of exceptional quality with high quality design, construction and material quality.

‘The proposed development has been designed and considered to reflect that of a contemporary modern home, designed with Passivhaus principles in mind.’

He added that the property was ‘required for the applicant and partner with a strong local connection to the rural settlement.’

Rob Smith, a customer at Mr Harvey’s garage, supported the planning and believes there is a ‘distinct stink of nimbyism’ from objectors.

He said: ‘I feel there is a strong need to keep talented hard working tradespeople like Tony within our community.

‘With house prices locally being unaffordable to people from working class backgrounds, allowing people with the skills and motivation to produce their own is only fair and right. If he (Tony) could afford to buy a house in the affluent village of West Compton which he calls ‘home’, he would.

‘From my experience, it would seem that the people of West Compton feel exempt from having any development taking place in ‘their’ village.

‘Many of the objections to this application have a distinct stink of nimbyism.’

Stephanie Christensen said she did not feel that the building was obtrusive. She said: ‘The dwelling is of a character and style which is not imposing to the surrounding areas.

‘The building is of a design and construction which enhances its immediate surroundings where it is obvious that real care and thought has been achieved.

‘I fully believe that this application should be supported by the local council, as every effort has been made to carry out a thoughtful design which is evident by what’s on the ground.’

A spokesperson from Somerset Council said: ‘The Local Planning Authority, having carefully considered the grounds for refusal, consider it expedient and an enforcement notice has been issued requiring the property to be demolished and the land restored back to an agricultural field.

‘The enforcement notice was served on 12 October and the owner has until 27 November to appeal the notice to the Planning Inspectorate or demolish the property within six months.’