A COUPLE claim their neighbours hate their newbuild house and say it’s like something out of Willy Wonka.
Mike Taylor and wife Dorothy live in a grade II listed Victoria cottage in a conservation area of Worcester.
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In 2021, the pair decided to fill the dead space in their garden with a futuristic white and grey property – which “sticks out like a sore thumb”.
Councillors gave it the go ahead which quickly saw the three-storey, two-bed home spring up at the side of Mike and Dorothy’s cottage.
After 41 years, the couple want to down-size – selling their current five-bed home – and live in the swanky newbuild.
Mike told The Sun Online: “The garden was not used much because it is so close to a very busy road so it made sense to make better use of the space.
“In my opinion it is an enhancement to the area. It has been built to a very high spec, using innovative architecture – it’s a green development.
“There has to be a mix of architecture in any city landscape. Nothing can stand still forever.
“You have to move forward all the time. To keep everything the same would be Disneyesque.”
But many of his neighbours within the Sidbury and Fort Royal Conservation Area can barely believe their eyes.
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Campbell Murray, 50, a cyber security specialist who lives opposite, said he was shocked the council gave it the nod as battles for planning permission over cutting down a tree.
He said: “Those of us who live here are so controlled over what we can do with our properties that this was a shock.
“I am not allowed to put solar panels on my roof, if I change a brick I have to use lime mortar and reclaimed bricks from the Georgian era.
“I cannot even trim a tree without planning permission and then this goes up. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Diane Jennings, 78, blasted the development and said it shouldn’t have been allowed in the conservation area.
She said: “It sticks out like a sore thumb and why is it so high?
“I cannot imagine how they got planning permission for it.
“I thought the whole idea of planning, especially in a conservation area, was to preserve the historic look of a place not to approve things like this.”
Another neighbour, Nigel Wake, 80, a retired chartered accountant, said: “I was amazed it was given planning permission and I don’t think it was properly consulted on.
“It is not at all in keeping with the other buildings and entirely inappropriate.
“I think some councillors consider it innovative but it makes a mockery of all their strict compliance rules.
“I don’t think the Council as a whole can make up its mind what it wants.”
The consultation period for the then-proposed development happened in May 2020 when the country was in lockdown.
City Council planners wrote: “The garden land belonging to 67 London Road provides an opportunity to build a modern and innovative home in an established residential area, adding to the housing stock in Worcester City.
“The historic importance of 67 London Road has been respected throughout the considered and clever design process, ensuring that 67 will still retain a garden area of its own and not be overlooked by the new dwelling.”
GONE WONKY
One couple in their 50s, who did not want to be named, said the development has annoyed a lot of people.
They said: “At no point did we see anything about this and I think that has annoyed a lot of people.
“We really like Mike and his wife but looking at what this new-build is next to, it’s like chalk and cheese.
“It looks like something out of a Willy Wonka story.”
But others have said they like it and it brings something different to the area.
Business owner and counsellor Sophie Newman, 38, said: “I quite like it.
“I think the whole of that area of London Road needs a revamp and it is nice that people are having a go at designing some new and interesting.”
Psychologist Tanya, 40, said: “I think it livens up London Road a bit.
“I see it every day and my gut feeling is that it looks nice. It is just good to see something a bit different.
“I imagine the height allows them some beautiful views over the Malvern Hills.”
Dorothy said she had been hurt by some comments when she posted a picture of her new home on social media.
She said: “I put it up when the scaffolding came off and 95 per cent were positive but the five per cent of anti comments did upset me.
“I love living round here. It’s a five minute walk down the hill into the city which keeps me fit but we wanted something smaller because I don’t want to spend my life dusting and cleaning such a big house.
“We couldn’t enjoy the garden so to use the space better we built this. I know it’s a historic area because before we put in the foundations, the archaeological department visited to make sure there were no cannon balls or other bits from the Civil War down there.”
Worcester City Council has been approached for comment.
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