Glamorous TV presenter Celia Sawyer has celebrated successful a planning battle together with her neighbour by vowing: ‘I’m not going to let him cease me sunbathing in my bikini.’
The celeb inside designer spoke out after ‘jealous’ neighbour Neil Kennedy tried to get a luxurious sunroom on the backside of her backyard torn down in what one native described as ‘an act of revenge’.
Celia – who is called Mrs Bling – informed how the pair fell out after Mr Kennedy ‘illegally’ constructed a balcony which she says meant he may peer into her backyard leaving her feeling uncomfortable when she was lounging round in her swimwear.
Mr Kennedy was pressured to place in retrospective purposes after Celia lodged a proper grievance over the ‘disgraceful’ breach of planning guidelines.
However she was later left shocked when the row escalated and officers turned their consideration to her property.
Celia – who is called Mrs Bling – spoke out after ‘jealous’ neighbour Neil Kennedy tried to get a luxurious sunroom on the backside of her backyard torn down in what one native described as ‘an act of revenge’
She was quizzed by the council over the 21ft by 15ft glass constructing with retractable roof that was in-built 2020 on decking alongside a small sandy ‘seashore’ Celia put in with solar loungers
She informed how the native council obtained an nameless tip-off that her sunroom – which was put up 4 years in the past – had been constructed with out permission.
After successful a struggle to maintain the £50,000 glass construction Celia, 58, informed MailOnline: ‘I’m not going to let him cease me sunbathing in my bikini.
‘We’ve labored very laborious to purchase a home like this. It’s all been very foolish – it’s tit for tat.
‘I’m relieved and really, very happy. I’m simply glad that the council did the suitable factor.’
Celia and husband Nick purchased their £4 million dream dwelling overlooking Poole Harbour in 2007 and introduced up their kids Jack, 22, and Lili, 25, there.
The couple didn’t object when retired accountant Mr Kennedy put in plans to demolish a £2 million bungalow and exchange it with an ultra-modern three storey home.
However as soon as the work started they declare Mr Kennedy didn’t keep on with the unique plans and say he unlawfully prolonged the width of a first-floor balcony which ignored their again backyard and solar terrace.
Celia – host of BBC makeover present Your Residence in Their Palms and star of Channel 4’s 4 Rooms – mentioned: ‘We object to being ignored. Once I’m in my bikini I really feel very uncomfortable.
‘We now have no privateness. He says it’s just for upkeep however he can actually stand there and look into our backyard, it shouldn’t be allowed.’
Celia mentioned the realm concerned within the dispute is ‘not a spot for dwelling in or sleeping in – it’s a spot for sunbathing and entertaining’
Celia Sawyer’s property (white) and Neil Kennedy’s property (crimson). The pair fell out after Mr Kennedy ‘illegally’ constructed a balcony which she says meant he may peer into her backyard leaving her feeling uncomfortable when she was lounging round in her swimwear
She informed how the native council obtained an nameless tip-off that her sunroom had been constructed with out permission. After successful a struggle to maintain the £50,000 glass construction Celia, 58, informed MailOnline: ‘I’m not going to let him cease me sunbathing in my bikini’
Celia and her husband are additionally upset about an air supply warmth pump which had apparently been constructed on the flat roof of Mr Kennedy’s home with out permission.
And so they declare that home windows had additionally been unlawfully added to either side of the brand new home, with considered one of them trying straight into his different neighbour’s bed room.
Mr Kennedy was pressured to place in two retrospective purposes to ‘regularise the as-built amendments’ which had been lastly accredited in January.
However that was not the tip of the matter and the row rumbled on – and this time it was Celia who was paid a go to by planning officers.
They quizzed her over the 21ft by 15ft glass constructing with retractable roof that was in-built 2020 on decking alongside a small sandy ‘seashore’ Celia put in with solar loungers.
Officers then ordered her to submit a retrospective planning utility for the sunroom.
Celia mentioned: ‘Somebody from the council got here spherical and knocked on the door saying there had been a grievance about our sunroom.
‘We thought ‘That’s ridiculous’. It was 4 years in the past we put it up. Why would you complain after 4 years? There was by no means a phrase earlier than that.
Celia and husband Nick purchased their £4 million dream dwelling overlooking Poole Harbour in 2007 and introduced up their kids Jack, 22, and Lili, 25, there
‘The council mentioned they needed to test it out.
‘There was a go to from the planning man. He acquired his tape measure out and every part else. We had been actually shocked.
‘When you’re going to moan about one thing you’d usually do it immediately not 4 years later.
‘My husband requested Mr Kennedy about it and he mentioned the explanation he did it was as a result of we objected to his planning.
‘We made it very clear that we didn’t complain in regards to the authentic plans.
‘We objected when he didn’t do what he was alleged to have carried out and broke the planning guidelines.
‘The glass room is a non-permanent construction on the backside of the backyard so there wasn’t any difficulty with planning.
‘It’s simply manufactured from metallic and glass. There’s a retractable sliding roof which has sensors.
‘I had it constructed on the premise it was completely planning free. We put it in and that was it. We by no means thought any extra of it.
‘It’s not a spot for dwelling in or sleeping in – it’s a spot for sunbathing and entertaining.
‘We’ve acquired a bit of bar in there and there’s heaters and lights.
‘We’ve had a variety of mates over and household and purchasers. It’s an attractive spot – you’re proper on the water’s edge.
‘I’ll sit there in my bikini and benefit from it after I can. Generally I’m going down on the finish of the day and have a glass of wine.
Celia is the host of Your Residence In Their Palms on BBC One
‘As a result of it retains the wind and rain and English climate off you, it prolongs the summer time.
‘Within the spring time we use it if it’s good. If it’s a bit chilly you may hold the doorways shut within the autumn – it’s nice.’
However referring to her neighbour she added: ’It’s the kind of factor for individuals who get pleasure from life and wish to have enjoyable. Not like him – he’ll by no means have one.
‘We expect he’s jealous. He has no mates. No person ever goes there to go to him.
‘We expect he doesn’t wish to see different individuals having enjoyable and he will get aggravated as a result of we’re having fun with ourselves.’
Talking of the affect the row has had on the household she mentioned: ‘It has brought on nervousness and stress.
‘We had been apprehensive that we’d need to take it down.
‘You don’t want it. You’re employed laborious and also you get one thing like that.
‘He’s already disrupted our lives by all of the constructing work – then constructing the unsuitable home.
’It’s the associated fee as effectively. We had been suggested to get the planning so there wouldn’t be any points.
‘We spend almost £1,000 having to go to planning and get a planning agent which we should always by no means have needed to do.’
The balcony (highlighted) in Mr Kennedy’s dwelling he was pressured to place in retrospective purposes after Celia lodged a proper grievance over the ‘disgraceful’ breach of planning guidelines
Celia, who left faculty aged 15 with no {qualifications}, labored her approach to turning into a self-made multi-millionaire designing houses for pop stars, footballers, celebrities and royalty.
Her Mayfair based mostly inside structure and design agency now creates ‘luxurious houses, tremendous yachts, aviation interiors, industrial properties and leisure business initiatives’ worldwide.
Celia informed the way it took years to seek out the proper dwelling after shifting out of London.
She mentioned: ‘That is our dream dwelling.
‘I labored very laborious in my enterprise to attempt and ensure I used to be capable of purchase it.
‘Once we first moved down right here, we purchased a vacation dwelling.
‘Then we purchased one other home which is shut by.
’It had a stunning view but it surely had a busy street in entrance of it. We moved the youngsters down.
‘I noticed it as being like a chess sport to get ourselves on the waterfront
‘I used to be taking a look at actually every part in the marketplace. I knew what every part was price.
‘All of the property brokers knew me. They’d see me and I’m certain they’d be considering ‘Oh. It’s her once more.’
‘Ultimately we discovered this place and it was good. I find it irresistible right here. It’s very quiet all of the neighbours acquired on – however now plainly man subsequent door simply needs to trigger hassle about every part.
‘We put a brand new deck down just a few months in the past and we had been very cautious to not do something that may go any additional than the previous deck as a result of we knew he can be trying over and he can be writing to the council.
‘It’s simply so petty but it surely causes individuals a variety of stress when somebody subsequent to you is like that repeatedly.’
Celia, who left faculty aged 15 with no {qualifications}, labored her approach to turning into a self-made multi-millionaire designing houses for pop stars, footballers, celebrities and royalty
Earlier this week Celia was granted permission for the sunroom after Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council mentioned they had been happy the constructing didn’t trigger any hurt to the realm.
Planning officer Emma Woods mentioned the sunroom was ‘open in nature’ and ‘doesn’t seem at odds with its environment’ mentioning that many waterside properties have outbuildings like boat homes.
She famous it’s about 3ft from Mr Kennedy’s property however it’s not overbearing on account of its modest top and open nature.
She mentioned: ‘The design retains a way of openness and is taken into account to suit comfortably with the established character and look of this stretch of the shoreline.
‘Total it’s thought-about that the event respects the facilities and privateness of the occupants of the neighbouring properties.’
The council solely obtained one illustration from a neighbour who mentioned the sunroom was effectively designed and made a optimistic contribution to this a part of the harbour.
The retrospective planning utility was granted with the situation that the sunroom should not be used for liveable lodging.
Now Celia insists she’s decided to place the troubles behind her after successful the newest battle.
She mentioned: ‘We’re very relieved. It’s virtually like waking up from a nightmare.
‘I’m simply completely thrilled that the council weren’t tough with us. They had been skilled and did the suitable factor.
‘The excellent news is we’ve acquired many extra summers and events to return.
‘We’d have a bit of occasion to have fun. We’ll invite the neighbours – effectively perhaps not all of them.’
Mr Kennedy declined to remark.
