FUMING residents have slammed their neighbour’s £500,000 home hidden behind hedges – claiming it is so ugly it looks like “Mars aliens are invading” when it lights up.
Tony Harvey has been ordered to tear down the illegally-built home near the Somerset village of West Compton.
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The mechanic failed to get planning permission before building the single storey barn-style property – sparking complaints from villagers.
One said: “When he puts the lights on it is lit up and looks like an alien invasion from Mars.”
Neighbours claimed that the building diverts water run-off from the field it is built on.
They said the water trickles onto a nearby road – where it freezes in cold weather.
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The Mail reports that local council officials visited Harvey 12 months ago – telling him that the building was illegal.
He made two retrospective applications for planning permission to keep the two-bed home.
But planners rejected both applications – and ordered Harvey to tear down the house within six months.
Harvey has appealed against the notice, which has been referred to the planning inspectorate.
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Neighbour Harriet Ray said: “At night the property is lit up like a Christmas tree so that the skyline is dominated by lights from the building.”
Stuart Vaughan said: “There are no street lights in West Compton and no light pollution.
“When he puts the lights on it is lit up and it looks like an alien invasion from Mars.”
Harvey’s planning agent James Whilding said the house benefits the West Compton area.
Whilding said: “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.”
He added that the home was “required for the applicant and partner with a strong local connection to the rural settlement”.
Supportive neighbour Rob Smith said: “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.”
Somerset Council said: ‘The Local Planning Authority, having carefully considered the grounds for refusal, consider it expedient.
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“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.”
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