Neighbours of a ‘mega mansion’ built without permission are fuming after losing a decade-long planning row, as councillors approved the retrospective application for the seven-bedroom home.
Developer Thomas Worrall has been allowed to keep his massive home, believed to be the biggest new-build house in Bath in 100 years. It is built in a beauty spot on the edge of the historic city in Somerset, in what locals claim was a ‘blatant’ breach of planning permission.
Larger than originally approved
Initial plans were first submitted in 2013, with permission granted in 2021 for a five-bedroom home set into the hillside. However, what has been built is a much larger seven-bedroom home, along with its own gym and cinema room, which were not part of the original approved plans.
Residents claim the building is also in a different orientation, about 130 square metres larger and up to two metres taller, now towering over the spire of the tin church next door. They submitted more than 100 letters of objection.
Retrospective application approved
Mr Worrall submitted a retrospective application to avoid enforcement action and validate the build, which councillors have now approved over fears it would end up as a derelict building or face an appeal.
Residents have accused Bath and North East Somerset Council of authorising a ‘two-tier’ system, saying it highlights how multi-millionaires are able to abuse and find loopholes during the planning process.
Speaking at the meeting, neighbour Paul Raithby said: ‘The applicant, their surveyor, and your own case officer all acknowledge that what has been built is an intentional breach of planning control. There is zero demonstrated local need for a seven-bedroom luxury mansion to justify overturning planning laws.’
Councillors vote 7-2 to approve
Several councillors said they had ‘reluctantly’ agreed to the changes, which won a vote of 7-2. Planners had recommended approval as it was ‘policy compliant’, despite being built without permission.
Cllr Tim Warren said: ‘I don’t like it, but I think we have no option but to go along with it.’ Cllr Saskia Heijltjes said: ‘Residents improving their homes must follow approved plans exactly. The owner of the tin church next door is doing everything by the planning book – however long it takes. If this is approved as built, many will conclude that B&NES has a two-tier planning system: one set of rules for those who follow them, and one for those who build first and ask questions later.’
Developer and neighbours respond
Mr Worrall has previously said he had bought the plot with planning permission for the site but had to make some changes ‘on the ground’ due to the water table and ground conditions. He said the amendments were necessary at the time of construction to allow for a safer build, while the expanded basement was ‘added for structural purposes.’
Tavis Hamilton, 48, lives next door to the massive house and has spent ten years battling developers. He said: ‘It is enormous and dwarfs all the cottages. It just shows how unfair the process is. It seems if you put the wrong guttering on your house or use the incorrect glazing, the council jumps on you for enforcement. But you can build this enormous structure without the right planning permission and no enforcement is carried out until it is too late.’
The applicant and house owner Thomas Worrall, of Yate near Bristol, said previously: ‘I only bought the site to build my own house with planning permission already on it. I just want an easy life. I want to get my house finished and move my family into it. I am sorry to everyone for the inconvenience of it all. But I want to be a good neighbour. It will be a lovely building with green grass on the roof. I am just in the hands of planners. I want it to be right. There will be no more work on site until they are 100 per cent happy.’
