The winner of a £6 million house from Omaze is still waiting to get the keys due to an ongoing planning row. Vicky Curtis-Cresswell won the house in a Comic Relief raffle, but planned to sell it to fund a house in Wales, where she is from. However, after an anonymous member of the public claimed the pool and tennis court were built without permission, the process has been stalled.
Planning documents and photos of the Norfolk property reportedly show it’s bigger than allowed, according to the BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporting Service. North Norfolk District Council is now investigating the house, which boasts a sprawling balcony across the first floor and a large garden.
A North Norfolk District Council spokesperson said: “At present, we are waiting for an application to be submitted by the owners to try and regularise the current breaches of planning control.
“We are expecting an application to be submitted by the end of this month.”
An Omaze spokesperson said the company submitted a pre-application to the council and was also submitting a retrospective one.
However, the retrospective application could be refused, giving the council the power to take enforcement action and force Omaze to make changes.
Planning discrepancies did not come up during checks and surveys before the house was bought, Omaze said.
The spokesperson added: “Omaze continues to work with North Norfolk District Council in relation to recommendations made regarding the property in Norfolk.
“Omaze has submitted a pre-application to the council and is submitting a retrospective planning application.
“Omaze reiterates that it guarantees no house winner would ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue. Omaze further guarantees that all house prizes are transferred to winners with good and marketable title.”