A couple who spent years living in a concealed underground dwelling in the North Devon countryside have been given a suspended prison sentence after repeatedly ignoring council warnings and court orders. Garry Braund and Tina Thorne built the unauthorised home on land at Honey Hill, Snapper, gradually expanding the site over nearly a decade in defiance of planning rules.
North Devon Council first intervened in December 2016 after discovering the land was being used as a residence, with caravans, sheds and a new vehicle access point emerging onto a dangerous blind bend. Despite multiple opportunities to comply, the couple continued to develop the site, culminating in a subterranean home disguised with branches and camouflage netting.
An enforcement visit in August 2024, carried out with police support, confirmed the existence of the underground structure. Braund admitted during the visit that they were living on the site despite knowing of the planning breaches. The council described the case as one of “persistent and deliberate non-compliance” spanning around nine years.
At Exeter County Court on March 24, the couple admitted four breaches of an enforcement notice. They were sentenced to 42 days in prison, suspended for 12 months, on condition they do not return to live on the land or attempt to reverse compliance. They were also ordered to pay £8,088 in costs, with total costs exceeding £30,000, which the council is seeking to recover through legal charges on the land.
The site lies in open countryside where development is tightly restricted. Councillor Malcolm Prowse, lead member for regeneration, economic development and planning at North Devon Council, said: “Planning regulations are in place to ensure our natural environment is protected for the benefit of all our residents. This case shows we will continue to take action, even in complex situations, to uphold the system and protect our communities.”
