Millionaire fashion entrepreneur Sean Thomas, founder of the White Stuff brand, has failed in his attempt to save a skate park, tennis court, and garage built without permission on a Devon beauty spot. South Hams District Council rejected his proposal to plant over 1,000 trees to screen the structures.
The council deemed the development near Salcombe 'detrimental' to the 'highly sensitive' local environment, which lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and adjacent to the Salcombe to Kingsbridge Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest. Formal enforcement action is now set to begin.
Mr Thomas, who has not commented, has six months to appeal the decision. If unsuccessful, he may be required to demolish the unauthorised additions. The retrospective planning application was originally refused in 2019 following complaints from residents about the 'eyesore' development.
In April, Mr Thomas submitted plans to plant native trees to mitigate the visual impact, but the council report described the constructions as an 'incongruous development in a highly sensitive area of the open countryside'. The report added that the development has a 'detrimental impact upon the surrounding landscape', harming the natural beauty and special qualities of the AONB.
