A property developer has been ordered to demolish his brand new £1.2 million luxury home in East Sussex after constructing an underground level without the necessary planning consent.
The Unauthorised Basement and Council Clash
Michael Deller, 41, originally received permission from Brighton and Hove City Council in September 2020 to build a two-storey, three-bedroom house on a plot in the upmarket area of Hove. He purchased the land for £648,000 in June 2021 from the previous owner, Maria Higgins.
However, Deller, who is a businessman in the property sector, proceeded to construct a lavish four-bedroom, three-bathroom modernist villa which included a basement. He claims he was in discussions with council officers about the basement plans and was advised to carry out the work and then apply for permission retrospectively to avoid a £40,000 Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charge.
Acting on this advice, he completed the building work in 2022 and then submitted a planning application for the finished property, which boasted a basement housing a gym, cinema room, guest bedroom, and storage.
Neighbour Outrage and Enforcement Action
The council rejected his retrospective application. Consequently, because the constructed building breached the original planning permission, the authority issued an enforcement notice requiring the entire property to be torn down.
Local residents have expressed fury, labelling the development a "grotesque over development" and an "eyesore". One neighbour accused Deller of "land grabbing" with no consideration for wildlife or the local area, while another stated the developer was "clearly fuelled by greed and stupidity". Council papers quote neighbours saying the built property bears no resemblance to the approved plans and criticise Deller's conduct as "shoddy and illicit".
Current Standoff and Future of the Property
In the midst of this, Michael Deller has submitted another planning application in an attempt to bring the house more in line with the original approval and meet building standards, such as light levels in the basement. Simultaneously, he has put the property on the market for £1.25 million.
The estate agent listing describes a high-spec home with 2,686 sq ft of living space, marble floors, and sleek fittings, but it carries a clear disclaimer regarding the planning enforcement notice on the lower ground floor.
Councillor Alison Thomson, chair of the planning committee, stated that the council would not encourage anyone to start work without relevant permission and that all comments on the new application would be considered. The future of the £1.2 million villa now hangs in the balance, awaiting a final decision from the planners.
