Neighbour left raging at ‘baffling’ council decision to let ‘monstrous’ home be built

An enormous house that is as “big as an Amazon warehouse” has sparked anger among neighbours who have launched a complaint against its owners.

The “monstrous” two-storey modern home – which was once a derelict bungalow – is said to be too overbearing on Terry Selby and his wife Margaret’s single-storey house.

During the planning stages, other neighbours and the local town council also objected to the proposals claiming the property would be out of keeping with the bungalows in the cul-de-sac in Corfe Mullen, near Wimborne, Dorset.

Despite the number of complaints, a planning assessment is made on its own terms and weighs up the benefits and harm of the proposal.

Council planners signed off the application, which was within the law, and now the property is almost complete.

But the couple claim they have lost eight hours of sunlight per day and they’ve had to change plants in the garden too.

According to the planning officer, the new house was complied with the local development plan and despite the Selbies claims, that there was “no harmful overshadowing of the living accommodation”.

However, Terry has now complained to the Ombudsman and alleges that council staff working from home are behind the decision.

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He said: “Our case to the Ombudsman is that Dorset Council made a massive mistake in making this decision.

“Our argument is that they couldn’t have looked at the plans properly, they just let it go through.”

He added that despite the council report finding it wouldn’t be overbearing “the opposite has come true.”

Before the development began, a small bungalow stood but the elderly owner died in 2022 and the house was bought for £350,000 by Mark and Julie Mills who applied for planning permission to build a four-bedroom home.

A spokesperson for the council said they took local concerns on board but granted planning permission due to the need for housing.

They said: “The application was considered against local and national planning policies taking into account all material considerations raised by neighbours and the town council. The application process followed all legislative and constitutional requirements.

“Officers judged that the revised extensions could be accommodated on the site and planning permission was granted. We have been in communication with Mr Selby to explain the council’s position.

“The council will be monitoring compliance with the approved plans.”