Sarah Beeny faces demolition order after building extension without planning permission

TV personality and property developer Sarah Beeny is challenging a Somerset Council order to demolish parts of her £3 million Stoney Stoke estate.

Beeny, known for her expertise in property, completed extensive renovations to her family home without planning permission arguing that the additions are in line with her vision for the rural estate and insists her improvements add value.

Here’s a breakdown of the planning dispute over her Victorian-inspired home, which Beeny and her family have been renovating since 2018.

What did Sarah Beeny build?

Sarah Beeny built her house in 2018 and since then she has made a number of modifications including an expanded balcony, French doors, and additional landscaping changes, including a treehouse, boathouse, and a Victorian-style greenhouse.

Originally, Beeny had been granted permission to demolish a 1970s farmhouse and construct a new home, however, she added several extensions and structural adjustments after starting the project, arguing that these features enhanced the aesthetic and functionality of the estate.

Much of this work has been documented in her Channel 4 series, New Life in the Country, which follows her journey in transforming the property into a stately home.

Beeny never gained planning permission for these changes and was forced to submit a retrospective planning application.

Why have the council rejected the application?

Somerset Council, along with Charlton Musgrove Parish Council, opposed Beeny’s retrospective planning application, stating that her modifications contradict the original permission to demolish and replace the farmhouse.

In rejecting her application in May, the council noted that the extensions and additional structures were unauthorised and deemed her approach inconsistent with the agreed-upon planning permissions.

Concerns were also raised over the impact of the project on local wildlife, particularly a known bat population, which under planning law requires Beeny to obtain a European Protected Species license and create a bat roost as part of a mitigation plan.

The Parish Council has also voiced objections to Beeny’s expanded use of agricultural land, arguing that her modifications blur the boundaries of what was approved.

“We find this retrospective application for an extension to a house that should have been demolished conflicting,” read a statement from the council, with members citing their worry about “the loss of agricultural land” and the increased footprint of the development.

Beeny files appeal with Planning Inspectorate

In response, Beeny has filed an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, supported by a 125-page document from her design team, detailing the reasons for her changes.

Beeny argues that her modifications align with her vision of a classic Victorian-style country home that adds character to the rural landscape and provides her family with functional spaces.

“We’ve put so much thought into creating something that complements the property and the surrounding countryside,” Beeny explained in an interview, adding that the new additions, including a greenhouse and re-cladding of the barn, help integrate the estate into its environment sustainably.

Despite the council’s insistence on following planning guidelines, Beeny remains hopeful that her appeal will be successful, allowing her to continue developing the estate. Her supporters argue that the additions are carefully designed, maintaining the spirit of the countryside while modernising the home.