South Norfolk Council to crack down on planning breaches by Hill House dispute overturned

A Norfolk council has revealed it will be cracking down on planning breaches after failing to shut down a controversial boutique hotel.

South Norfolk Council plans to overhaul its enforcement process amid criticism surrounding its handling of a years-long dispute with the owner of Hill House in Saxlingham Nethergate.

Darren Swayne, who runs the business, recently succeeded in overturning a ruling by the council to shut down his hotel and glamping venture, which villagers claimed brings excessive noise and drunken visitors to the area.

The council is now introducing tougher interventions for rows that rumble on for more than six months, in the hope of avoiding such defeats in future.

Hill House is a Grade II-listed property in Saxlingham Nethergate accommodating up to 25 visitors, but many more can stay in bell tents in the grounds.

The venue, which costs £4,900 to hire for a weekend, is used for corporate retreats by companies including Google, Nike and Amazon. It has also hosted charity events.

Mr Swayne purchased the house in 2003 and started hosting guests in 2007, but the building has remained officially registered as a residential property.

The events prompted huge controversy, with locals saying they endured excessive noise and drunken shouting.

They also reported adults running through quiet village streets playing tag and games being organised in an abandoned church.

The property was the subject of various planning disputes, as well as an enforcement notice from South Norfolk Council, due to the use of the house as a holiday and events venue without permission.

Mr Swayne appealed this decision and the row was escalated to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which held a hearing into the case several months ago and ultimately overturned the ruling.

This was because the venue had been used as an events and holiday destination for more than 10 years, meaning it was immune to enforcement action, and therefore lawful.

COUNCIL REFLECTS ON CASE

The decision was met with disappointment from campaigners, including South Norfolk councillor John Cook, who was elected on a pledge to tackle the issue.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the council, he called on “strengthened” enforcement action in future to avoid such rows rumbling on for so many years.

Lisa Overton-Neal, cabinet member for planning, said: “We were all disappointed by the decision made by the Planning Inspectorate but we never know which way these cases are going to go.

“We are setting up a new panel to look at new cases which have gone unresolved for six months or more to review how these are being dealt with.

“We hope this will help move things forward in a more positive way.”

The panel is expected to meet for the first time in January and while its focus will not be on resolved cases such as Hill House, it will aim to bring a quicker conclusion to any similar disputes arising in the future.

EXPENSIVE DISPUTES

Despite emerging victorious from the Hill House battle, Mr Swayne did not believe justice had been served – having incurred £70,000 in legal and planning fees over the years.

It is not clear how much the row cost the council.

The Planning Inspectorate has imposed no conditions on Mr Swayne, meaning he is free to continue running his business without constraint.

He insists the issues raised by some locals are “non-existent” and stressed that noise control measures have been and will remain in place at the venue, including the use of signage and sound monitoring.

He said: “We’ve had to fight so hard to prove what we’ve all known from the beginning – that this house and everything we do here is lawful.”