A grieving father has been told to tear down a summerhouse he built in memory of his son, after housing officials deemed it unsafe. Bruce Clegg, 49, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, spent nearly a year constructing the 16-square-metre wooden structure following the death of 20-year-old Nathaniel from complications of type 1 diabetes in May 2020.
The summerhouse, which cost around £1,750 to build, sits in the back garden of his semi-detached council-owned home. Inside, it features a bar named after Nathaniel, family photographs, and his son’s favourite Harry Potter memorabilia. Mr Clegg said the project helped him cope with his loss. “It never even occurred to me we would need permissions because I was just thinking of my son,” he said.
In April, a neighbour’s complaint about antisocial behaviour prompted Wakefield District Housing (WDH) to inspect the property. They found Mr Clegg had not sought permission, and that the structure was unsafe due to poor materials, electrical work and its proximity to the neighbour’s fence. Mr Clegg was ordered to dismantle it.
Mick Walsh, WDH’s executive director of housing, expressed condolences but stressed safety requirements. He said the housing association would help Mr Clegg rebuild the memorial properly if he obtains the correct permissions and follows regulations.
