Looking through an older copy of the Spectator, I saw mention of a farmer who built himself a new house. However, thoroughly frustrated with the local planners, he decided to buck the system. He built the house, but hid it from view, inside a huge haystack complete with tarpaulin roof. Four years later, he applied for a “Certificate of Lawfulness” which is a sort of get out of jail free card- if no-on has complained after that time, then demolition cannot take place.

The Council don’t see it like that of course, as they argue that people couldn’t see the house to complain about it in the intervening period. What they could see though, was this big ugly haystack. Did they complain about that? Well, perhaps. But agricultural use is exempt from the Town & Country Planning Act. This is why you see large box vans near motorways in fields- the Jobsworths would love to put a stop to it but they currently can’t.

Now I am personally on he side of the Farmer, ironically called Mr. Fidler. Having spent three years on a planning Committee, I’m of the view that people can do what they want with their own property providing it isn’t impacting on others (and even then, if it does but it isn’t for malicious intent then it is for the courts to decide, not the bureaucrats.

Have a look at his rather fine house and also how awful the haystack was. Read about how they had to keep their toddler home from school the day the children were going to draw their houses in case the cunning plan came unstuck.

Story from the Daily Telegraph

He will probably have to demolish it, more’s the pity.