IrishMirror: A controversial ‘Hobbit house’ is facing demolition after council chiefs declared it illegal. Pembrokeshire council planners ruled that the home in Crymych, West Wales, broke the rules for developing homes in the countryside.
Charlie Hague and Megan Williams built the eco-friendly house to live a self-sufficient lifestyle, winning fans across the world.
They have spent years fighting against the demolition of their distinctive home, which was built on private land without planning permission.
They received a demolition notice from the council as they failed to apply for planning permission.
The couple said that the home has a low impact on the environment because of its unique construction. There was hope that Welsh Government guidelines designed to encourage sustainable development – the One Planet Development Policy (OPD) – could have made it possible for the couple to keep their family home.
A legal struggle and an online campaign has won of the support of 96,000 people, a groundswell of support of which the committee was made aware of at its last meeting.
Head of planning Hywel Wyn Jones said there were ‘fundamental shortcomings’ in the application’s reliance on the Welsh Government’s One Planet Development guidelines – which encourages sustainable development.
“The first main issue is whether there any exceptions to the strict control on local planning policy for development in the open countryside,” said Mr. Wyn Jones.
Speaking at the meeting councillor Terry Wilcox said it would be “immoral” to make the couple tear down their home.
Mum-of-one Megan, 26, said that that the council had an opportunity to support sustainable development and allow young people from the area to live and work in their own community.
Megan said she and Charlie have always acknowledged their property was built without prior consent and that “wasn’t the best start”.
Made from straw bales rendered in lime and situated on land owned by Mr. Hague’s parents, it took less than 12 months to build and cost around £12,000. The couple previously said it was the only way they could afford a home (ever hear of renting?) of their own after prices of conventional houses in the area increased.
Megan said: “We were living in a mobile home here previously, and it really wasn’t warm or comfortable,” she said.
“What is so nice is living in a home like this, is that has been created with such a positive process with friends and family willing to learn crafts and skills to build it as we went along.”
DCG
