A wealthy ex-fund manager accused of ‘ruining villagers’ lives’ by renting out his Tudor manor for allegedly raucous ‘Ibiza-style’ parties is to face the scrutiny of a planning inspector next week.
Villagers in the tiny village of Saxlingham Nethergate say they have been plagued for more than a decade by pounding music, drunken shouting, people playing tag in the street and games being organised at an abandoned church.
They say the racket at Hill House – which is officially registered as a residential property – can be heard up to a mile away from the 17th century property.
The venue is popular for stag dos and hen parties and can house 25 people for up to £9,100 per week, while luxury bell tents pitched in the grounds can swell numbers up to 200 – compared to a local population of around 700.
Even the local scout group has objected, saying the large number of ‘unruly’ strangers pitching up on a regular basis provides an ‘unknown risk’.
South Norfolk Council had issued enforcement action against owner Darren Swayne, 52, but he was allowed to continue operating the business after he appealed.
His application for retrospective permission to use the property as a holiday let and put on large outdoor events was due to be heard by the authority’s planning committee today but he withdrew from the process late yesterday afternoon without explanation after made enquiries.
Residents had feared the outcome after officers recommended councillors should grant temporary planning permission until the end of next year, meaning up to six large events with a maximum of 100 guests would be allowed every year.
Mr Swayne would also have been permitted to use Hill House as a holiday let and for other corporate events whenever he wanted.
He still faces the planning inspector on Tuesday, September 3, when he will argue his case for having paying guests and events in the house.
Locals hope the inspector will rule in their favour and end – or significantly curtail – the torment they say they have suffered since the early 2010s.
Bryn Austin, of the Saxlingham Tired of Noisy Events (STONE) campaign group, said: ‘Previous events have blighted residents with noise and raucous drunken visitors disrespecting the quiet setting.
‘The peacefulness of the village is the major reason why folk select to live and die here. I feel strongly that this is a profoundly unjust and unfair situation.’
Fellow STONE member Jo Kershaw added: ‘We are being asked to surrender the quiet enjoyment of our homes to allow others to make profit at our expense.’
Villager John Cook, who was elected to South Norfolk Council last year on a pledge to tackle the problems at Hill House, said: ‘Local people just want this saga to end.
‘I understand and agree with those who are having their lives adversely affected by Hill House and hope they will be listened to.’
In an official objection, the 43rd Saxlingham Nethergate Scout and Guide Group, which uses a nearby field for stargazing and building camp fires, said: ‘We are concerned about noise levels and unruly behaviour that has previously been witnessed during events at Hill House.
‘We may be told we can’t hold our activities due to the unknown risk presented by the close proximity of the venue and its continually changing large number of unknown residents.’
The 6,500 sq ft manor boasts two lounges, a dining room and a retro games room, as well as a library bar and drop-down 10ft cinema screen.
The three acres of grounds have a barbecue and wood-fired pizza oven, tennis court, table tennis table and a sun lounging deck with hot tub.
Organised activities include a murder mystery experience and tennis and archery lessons.
Mr Swayne last year sought a certificate of lawfulness – a planning device that would confirm his use commercial use of the property was lawful as it had been used the same way continuously for more than ten years.
He claimed it had been open since 2007 but planning officials said guest logs only began in detail from 2012 and ‘field-based events’ started in September 2019.
Hull University-educated Mr Swayne’s online biography states he worked in the City of London as a fund manager for American Express Asset Management from 1994 before setting up two hedge funds.
He ‘moved away from the financial industry’ and began to focus on Hill House, which he restored with his wife, Juliette.
The entrepreneur was approached for a comment yesterday.
Speaking before his decision to withdraw the retrospective planning application, he said: ‘It is good to see that South Norfolk Council’s planning team have recommended to pass our planning application. We have welcomed all of the analysis they have undertaken on us over many years.
‘All of their findings have proven that we are not detrimental to the quality of life in any way and this is in the context of the character of the beautiful village of Saxlingham Nethergate, where we are based.
‘We are very proud that Hill House is a top destination for families and some of the world’s most exciting companies, as well as being available for local use. People travel for miles to come to stay with us and enjoy valuable time together.
‘The planning conditions that have been proposed ensures our continued compliance which is why we sought this particular planning application as our preferred route. It is a way of making a big guarantee to the village.
‘We welcome a resolution to this longstanding situation and fully support the vast majority of residents who would like to get this all put behind us.’