A Devon father's dream of creating the perfect garden retreat for his children has been shattered after council officials ordered him to tear down his £5,000 summer house.
Chris Murray, from Paignton, invested thousands in the stylish timber building for his two young daughters, believing it fell under permitted development rights. However, Torbay Council has issued a brutal enforcement notice, giving him just three months to demolish the structure completely.
The heartbroken dad told the Mirror: "It’s absolutely soul-destroying. I built it for my kids – it’s their little space. We were going to put a little TV in there, they’ve got their toys in there. Now I’ve got to tear the whole thing down."
Planning Permission Nightmare
The council's devastating decision hinges on the summer house's proximity to a public highway and its raised platform base. Despite Mr Murray's belief that the structure was compliant, authorities deemed it required full planning permission, which was never sought.
Key reasons for the enforcement notice:
- Positioning too close to a public highway
- Construction on a raised platform
- Lack of formal planning application
A Costly Mistake
What began as a project to enhance his family garden has now become a financial nightmare. With the demolition deadline looming, Mr Murray faces not only the loss of his initial investment but also the additional costs of dismantling and disposing of the building.
The case serves as a stark warning to homeowners across the UK about the complexities of permitted development rights and the importance of verifying planning regulations before undertaking garden projects.
