Decision over Omaze mansion in Norfolk to be made
The £6 million pounds home was won earlier this year
Officials have called for a £6m prize home that breached planning rules to avoid facing demolition, despite complaints its additions risk harming a protected area.
North Norfolk District Council’s planners have recommended the changes to the Omaze Blakeney property, Larkfields, be approved.
It follows an investigation into the three-bed home, which discovered it had been built differently to the approved plans.
This included a four-bay garage, an eastern wing extension, a swimming pool, tennis court and other out-buildings.
The property, built to resemble mansions in the Hamptons area of New York, was won by Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, who lives in South Wales, as part of a Comic Relief prize draw.
It was then Omaze’s “biggest ever prize draw”.
The competition had gained endorsement from celebrities and the BBC but during the raffle, it was discovered that the floor plans published in marketing materials were different to the plans approved by North Norfolk District Council.
Following the discovery of the planning breaches, Ms Curtis-Cresswell has been unable to take ownership of the new home, as Omaze has said it will not hand it over until it has resolved the issues with the building.
Blakeney Parish Council and local district councillor Victoria Holliday have objected to the breaches being allowed, worrying it harms the environment and character of Blakeney’s conservation area.
One neighbour in the village also urged for the application to be refused, arguing not doing so risks damaging the integrity of the planning system.
They said “too many developers take a very cavalier attitude,” calling the original developer’s actions “arrogant”.
However, planning officers have taken the view that the breaches do not have a significant detriment or visual impact, given the site’s “containment”.
The retrospective application has been recommended to be approved, providing trees and shrubs which had been removed to make way for the development are replaced.
Councillors will make a decision at a development committee meeting on Thursday, October 16.