October 14th 2024.
A dispute has arisen in a coastal town over a trivial matter - who has the largest house in an affluent neighborhood. John Yeoman, 70, and his wife Deborah have found themselves at the center of this issue as they plan to build a five-storey home next to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Their proposed house will be slightly taller than their neighbor Jeremy Gardner's four-storey mansion, which he built two years ago.
Unfortunately, things have turned sour between the two households, with the Yeomans accusing Jeremy of orchestrating a smear campaign against them. According to John and Deborah, Jeremy has been spreading false information and trying to sabotage their plans. This feud began when the Yeomans purchased 54 Elms Avenue, a property overlooking the exclusive Sandbanks peninsula, back in 2001 for £1.7m. After demolishing the existing house, they built a luxurious three-storey home that is now worth an impressive £8.8m.
In 2015, Jeremy, a company director, bought the property next door, 56 Elms Avenue, for £2.8m. He obtained planning permission to demolish the modest house and construct a modern four-storey mansion in its place. This decision did not sit well with the Yeomans, who strongly objected to the plans, claiming that the new house would dwarf their own and ruin the skyline of Elms Avenue.
In response, John, also a company director and property investor, has decided to take matters into his own hands. He plans to demolish his current home, which he has lived in for 20 years, and replace it with a taller, five-storey building. Although initially, the Yeomans had wanted to build a six-storey house, their plans were rejected last year. Now, they hope to reassert the hierarchy of built form within Elms Avenue by constructing a five-storey home with five bedrooms.
Giles Moir, from planning agents Chapman Lily, who is representing the Yeomans, claims that the objections from local residents are a direct result of an orchestrated campaign by Jeremy and his household. According to him, false information has been circulated to the community through flyers and leaflets. He believes that the objections, which share similar themes, are a result of this lobbying campaign by the residents of 56 Elms Avenue.
To appease the locals and address their concerns, the Yeomans have made some changes to their plans. They have reduced the number of storeys from six to five and will now have a flat roof. The lower ground floor will house an indoor swimming pool complex, complete with a sauna, steam room, spa, and changing facilities. There will also be a garage for their classic car collection.
Mr. Moir assures that the proposed property will be similar in height to Jeremy's house. However, according to a planning officer from BCP Council, the current Yeoman residence appears to be smaller in comparison to its neighbors. Locals are worried that the large number of parking spaces - 17 to be exact - may indicate the Yeomans' intention to convert the building into a block of flats.
Jeremy, who is a member of the nearby Salterns Marina Yacht Club, believes that the proposed development is excessive. He argues that the five-storey, 17,000 sq ft building with 17 car parking bays is significantly larger than any other house in the area. He also feels that it does not fit in with the character of the neighborhood and will give a sense of enclosure.
Other neighbors, such as David Lush and Gillian Brown, share similar concerns. They believe that the house is too big for the plot and will not blend in with the surrounding properties. Gillian also raises the possibility of the house being converted into flats in the future, which she finds unacceptable. Carol Bishop, another neighbor, agrees and thinks that the proposed house is not suitable for a family home and is out of character for the area.
In conclusion, it seems that the Yeomans and Gardners have found themselves in a heated dispute over a matter as trivial as house size. While the Yeomans have made some changes to their plans to address the concerns of their neighbors, it remains to be seen if this will resolve the issue and allow them to build their dream home.
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