Winner of £6 million Norfolk home to move in after planning decision
It's despite claims that the unauthorised construction of a swimming pool and tennis court, would damage the local environment
The winner of Omaze’s £6m Norfolk mansion can finally receive the keys after councillors approved a series of planning breaches at the home.
The woman from South Wales had been prevented from taking ownership for the Larkfields property in Blakeney after winning the home in a competition due to an ongoing planning wrangle
An anonymous tip-off from a member of the public sparked an investigation into the three-bed home, which was found to have been built differently to the approved plans.
It meant Omaze had to apply for retrospective permission to keep a four-bay garage, an eastern wing extension, a swimming pool, tennis court and other outbuildings.
At a meeting this week, members of North Norfolk District Council’s (NNDC) planning committee met to discuss whether or not to let Omaze off the hook and be granted permission for the changes.
Blakeney Parish Council pleaded with NNDC to reject the application, arguing it would send a message to rogue developers that planning processes “must be followed”.
But councillors took a different view.
Angie Fitch-Tillet, a Conservative councillor, said she was aware councillors were nervous about deciding the application.
But since the home did not intrude on the landscape, she proposed councillors approve the changes.
Her colleagues agreed and when it came to the vote, councillors approved the retrospective application.
The home – which was not built by Omaze – was originally owned and built for Michael Goff and his wife Julia, director of Goff Petroleum.
The couple later sold it to Omaze after its construction.
NNDC’s decision will be a huge relief for prize winner Vicky Curtis-Cresswell.
She had been denied the keys for the £6m property due to the planning wrangle.
She won the house in what was billed as Omaze’s biggest ever prize draw, held to raise money for Comic Relief.
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 NNDC.
Following the discovery of the planning breaches, Ms Curtis-Cresswell had been unable to take ownership of the new home, as Omaze had said it would not hand it over until it had resolved the issues with the building.