An eyesore cottage is at the centre of a five-year-long planning row for its messy and prolonged building work. The property in Shipdham, Norfolk, is known as “Scaffold House” and has sparked irritation among local people since it was purchased by Margaret Smith in 2020.
She bought the detached two-bedroom house for £185,000 and is now carrying out works to replace ceilings and the roof. Ms Smith predicts the property to be finished by 2030 but neighbours have complained that the home is an eyesore. They have reported to Breckland Council that building material is strewn across the garden and government inspectors have now been drafted in.
The locals have become increasingly annoyed by the view of scaffolding on the street over the past five years. If the government inspectors rule against Ms Smith then she could be forced to take it all down.
The local council have ordered her to remove debris and materials from the property by November. However, she has appealed this to the Planning Inspectorate and claims she began the project herself to “keep costs down”.
More work to do
Ms Smith works for mental health services in the NHS and said she lacks time to work on the property. She has already completed a new fence, windows, chimneys and radiators.
However, the majority of the work, including replacing the ceilings in the bathroom and dining room, remains unfinished. Ms Smith is also working to repair the roof, replace the front and rear porches, and fit a new kitchen and bathroom.
A statement to the Planning Inspectorate said: “Furthermore, due to increases in the cost of living, mortgage payments, labour and materials, the renovation project has not yet able to have been completed. It has also involved much more work than was initially anticipated.”
Locals divided on the property
Some neighbours have described the property as an “extreme eyesore” and a “dreadful” view. However, others are less phased about the ongoing work.
Emma Farrow, who lives near the house, said: “I don’t have a clue what they’re doing but it doesn’t affect me. It has been like that since I moved in and I’ve got used to it.”
Dave Gray-Taylor said: “It’s their own place and they’re doing it up at their own pace. The scaffold house has become a bit of a landmark.”
However, Joan Bartlett said immediate neighbours had become “fed up”. She explained: “The scaffolding has been there for so long it’s taken root.”
The Planning Inspectorate will hold a hearing in due course to consider Ms Smith’s argument and the case presented by the council. It will decide whether to uphold the enforcement notice or throw it out and allow Ms Smith to leave the property as it is.
She has declined to comment.
