Turkish Family Withdraws Renovation Plans Following Council Criticism
A wealthy Turkish family at the centre of a major planning dispute on what is often called Britain's 'prettiest street' has abandoned plans for further renovations. Metin Dener and his wife Gulbin have been blamed for what neighbours describe as 'nightmare' construction work in the picturesque Cotswold village of Bibury, leaving desperate residents considering selling their homes.
Council Report Deems Plans Unacceptable
The couple had been set to begin the next phase of their extensive refurbishment project, which included building an oak conservatory and summerhouse. However, after a council report deemed the proposed work a 'failure' to preserve the appearance of Awkward Hill, the application was formally withdrawn. The street is filled with traditional chocolate-box cottages where average house prices reach £1.5 million.
Author Victoria Summerley, 69, who lives next door to the Grade-II listed property, expressed relief at the decision. She credited previous press coverage with helping to highlight the issue. "This is very welcome news," Summerley stated. "We're convinced the press coverage helped. Finally, someone has realised that this work is not appropriate for the area. It's a very comprehensive report and basically says 'enough.'"
Years of Disruption and Neighbour Complaints
The ongoing building work, which has lasted several years and is thought to have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, has been described by infuriated residents as 'cultural vandalism.' Neighbours report that the construction has made their lives 'sheer hell' with constant noise, disruption, and traffic issues. Even tourists visiting from countries including India, Japan, and China have commented that the renovation appears to be 'ruining' the picturesque street.
The couple are reportedly living outside the UK while their house undergoes transformation, with neighbours claiming they haven't been seen in the area for some time. Locals had feared the proposed project would extend disruptive work for another year, but the planning officer's critical assessment has halted those plans.
Detailed Council Assessment
The council report stated clearly: "Unfortunately, given the significant previous extension to the cottage, officers could not support further extension. Officers maintain that the principle of a detached summerhouse may be acceptable, however the scale and design of the proposed building fails to respect the character and scale of the main cottage."
The assessment continued: "In conjunction with its elevated position, the proposed summerhouse would fail to appear as a recessive, subservient outbuilding to the main cottage, and would harm the setting of Rosemary Cottage, and the wider setting of the Grade I listed Arlington Row, in addition to the appearance and character of the Bibury Conservation Area."
Community Impact and Safety Concerns
The couple purchased the cottage for £1.1 million in 2022, with work ongoing since 2023. The extensive construction has reportedly 'horrified' residents who say the owners don't live in the village, rarely visit, and 'ignore' negative feedback. Some residents say they've been reduced to tears by the work, which has impacted their 'mental, emotional and physical' wellbeing.
David Jacons, 45, who has lived in the village for eight years, said the work has made him consider moving and selling his property. "This building work has been more than awkward. It's been a nightmare," he explained. "What's the point of this being a conservation area? How this has all gone ahead is beyond me. The work has been unreal. It's been a complete farce. It looks like a war zone."
Neighbour Derek Rarreary, 70, expressed concerns that underground building work might compromise the hill's structural safety. "That is a real worry in terms of what will happen to the hill. I'm worried it won't be structurally sound," he said.
Emergency Access Issues
Retired resident Jenny Hedgeland, who is in her 70s, reported that all locals had 'suffered' from the disruption. She revealed a particularly concerning incident where an ambulance was blocked from accessing the road when it was closed, forcing emergency workers to carry an injured woman on a stretcher over a river to reach safety.
"They could not get the ambulance down. It was awful for the poor woman," Hedgeland recalled. "The road outside was closed for about a year while some of the work was ongoing. It was a nightmare. This is an area which is not supposed to have drastic changes. It's an area of outstanding natural beauty."
Parish Council Response
Bibury Parish Council chairman Craig Chapman stated that the village has suffered 'incredible disruption' for years due to the ongoing works. "It's been perpetual and all of the verges have been ripped up," he said. "We had a further three planning applications to consider and we've had enough. On behalf of the residents we're saying this has to stop and we will be objecting to the applications."
Chapman added that the cottage modifications are 'not in keeping' with historic Cotswolds architecture, noting unusual additions including a barbecue, palm trees, and an underground garage. "We just don't know when this is going to stop," he continued. "The owners don't live there. They visit every so often, so they don't have to live with the disruption."
Architect's Perspective
Matthew Hollingsworth of Spirit Architecture Ltd addressed some of the complaints, explaining: "The Awkward Hill road was closed by Gloucestershire Highways in 2023 after they received comments from the Parish Council in regard to the condition of the retaining drystone boundary wall of the cottage. Highways then issued an enforcement notice to my client to make repairs. My client had to then pay for the rebuilding of this three metre-plus high retaining wall to current safety standards."
Hollingsworth clarified that while closing the road "obviously upset a lot of residents," it was initiated by the Parish Council and highways authority rather than his clients. The couple were approached for comment on the latest development regarding their withdrawn planning application.
