I spent £40,000 on an 'eyesore garden shed' but council refuses to let me transform it – they say it'll ruin the area | The Sun
A WOMAN who spent £40,000 on an "eyesore garden shed" has been refused permission by the council to transform it.
Intisar Al-Shawi, 78, bought the unused building in the middle of nowhere, in Kent, a decade ago in the hope of turning it into a home for her son.
But those plans were quickly scuppered following two lots of council rejection – forcing the retired eye surgeon to rethink.
The renovation was then set to become an office space for Intisar with an added extension when planning rules stated that it couldn't be converted into a home.
She submitted an application so work could get underway but again was met with further hurdles and two more rejections from officials.
In a meeting last week Councillor Patrik Garten said: “It is not even slightly bigger than a garden shed.
read more on property
PAY THE PRICE
We're so sick of tourists – and now we've made them pay DOUBLE tax
HELL'S BELLS
We hate plans to change our local church – it's like putting lipstick on a pig
"It is in the middle of nowhere there is no reason for this building to be used as an office, it is not proposed to be a forestry or farm office."
Describing the building as a "brick shed", Councillor Tony Harwood added: "For the very tiny gain for the economy there’s an awful lot of harm to the landscape."
Councillor Claudine Russell added: “It’ll be urbanisation in an area where there isn’t anything.
“I agree that you could squeeze a tiny office in there, but should we? What is the point in that?”
Most read in Money
BIGGER PICTURE
‘Huge blow’ as cinema chain with 103 locations to close branch in weeks
OPEN UP
Poundland confirms 19 more Wilko stores to open in DAYS following expansion plan
LAST ORDERS
Pub chain with 200 sites snaps up 17 boozers from rival – is yours affected?
THAT’S MINT!
I’ve discovered a rare error coin in my change and it could be worth £100s
Despite local uproar and multiple attempts at trying to make the unused building into something, Intisar said she thought the process would be "straightforward".
She told KentOnline: "I thought it so straightforward – make this little building into a home for him in the countryside, and it’s become a disaster.
"Since then failure after failure after failure.”
Fuming, the mum asked why she was allowed to buy the property for £25k if she wasn't going to be allowed to do anything with it.
She added: "I asked, ‘Why didn't you tell me before I wasted my time and money?’
“I thought I would rent it out for a while [as an office] then apply to change it into a home.
“That’s all I want at the end of the day, I want it to be a home for my son."
The 10-year ordeal has cost her over £12k in planning costs.
Read More on The Sun
BANK BOOST
One-off payment worth £185 set for thousands – check if you're getting one
STREWTH
Soap legend in talks to join I'm A Celebrity after 28 years on show
Intisar reached her wits end and tried flogging the property but found no takers.
She added: "I can’t sell it because nobody wants to buy it. Who’s going to buy land you can't do anything with? Nobody.”
What to do if your planning application is refused
According to Homeowners Alliance, if your planning application has been refused and you feel the decision is unfair, you can launch an appeal.
This must be done within three months.
You should also speak to the planning officer and local planning authority for clarification about why it was refused.
Source: Read Full Article