0:00:02 > 0:00:05Planning battles are raging across Britain.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08- I love the countryside. - So do I, mate, so leave it alone.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12- I don't have time for nimbys.- No, to the student village!
0:00:12 > 0:00:14In a drive to boost the economy,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17the government has relaxed planning laws.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20- Here we are with a massive planning application.- It is a big project.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23You're talking about 270 million of economic benefit.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27We like to see enterprise, but not on our doorstep.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31- So, developers are cashing in. - Of course I'm here to make a buck.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34- Guilty as charged. - Objectors are going to war.
0:00:34 > 0:00:39- It's not morally right, it's not socially right.- Disgusting.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40Totally stitched up.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45I'm not having that they were frightened of a bunch of pensioners.
0:00:45 > 0:00:50- Deciding who wins are Britain's planners.- I can't sit on the fence.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- It's not a fence. - It's railings, basically.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Tonight, we revisit some of last year's most controversial
0:01:02 > 0:01:03planning decisions.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07What happened when planning permission was refused
0:01:07 > 0:01:09for this Cheltenham resident?
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Did the Lord of the Manor secure the future of his ancestral home?
0:01:13 > 0:01:16And what was the fate of these green fields?
0:01:21 > 0:01:25In 2012, the UK Government radically reformed planning laws
0:01:25 > 0:01:29in a bid to encourage development and kick-start the economy.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33As soon as that reform was passed, a planning application was put
0:01:33 > 0:01:36forward which would become a matter of national importance.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Two years ago, we followed Cheshire West and Chester's top planner,
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Fiona Edwards, as she considered that application.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47I can honestly say that I get up every morning looking forward
0:01:47 > 0:01:48to coming to work.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Perhaps I'm just sad, I don't know.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Fiona is on her way to Tarporley, one of the most affluent
0:01:54 > 0:01:57villages in Cheshire, where homes sell for millions.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01It's a short commute to Chester and Liverpool, and has its own
0:02:01 > 0:02:04secondary school and a high street full of independent shops.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Tarporley love really good chocolates.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12And perhaps the most popular is the rum truffle.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17Absolute classic, followed by the champagne and the cointreau.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20And what could be more British than good vanilla fudge?
0:02:23 > 0:02:27With so much going for it, Tarporley is a property developer's dream.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Land to develop was always hard to find, but
0:02:30 > 0:02:33since the planning laws governing development on the edges of
0:02:33 > 0:02:36communities were relaxed, Tarporley's green fields
0:02:36 > 0:02:38are up for grabs.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43This is the site for the proposal for up to 100 homes on this
0:02:43 > 0:02:44greenfield site.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49It's fairly classic rolling Cheshire countryside and a lot
0:02:49 > 0:02:55of people would argue that its loss would be an absolutely crying shame.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57A death knell for the countryside.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02This application from a large local building company for 100 new homes,
0:03:02 > 0:03:07would be the biggest development seen in Tarporley for over 40 years.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09With the need to build homes greater than ever,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Fiona is recommending the proposals go ahead.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Being a planner, I would say this is a logical expansion to the village.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Although this is, technically, actually open countryside,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25we have seen how close it is to the built-up area of Tarporley,
0:03:25 > 0:03:30how easy it is to access all the services, so it's sustainable.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34But it's quite interesting if we look over to the right-hand side.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36You can see a fairly modern housing development
0:03:36 > 0:03:39and that will have equally been built on what was formerly
0:03:39 > 0:03:42a piece of greenfield agricultural land.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50I know we have to have progress but...
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Does it have to be there? For me.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01It was the view over the field that first attracted Norma
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and her husband, Frank, 20 years ago.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Now that field could become a housing estate.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12It's a shame, isn't it?
0:04:15 > 0:04:18I'm going to look into somebody's back garden
0:04:18 > 0:04:19and look at their washing.
0:04:21 > 0:04:22It's such a shame.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25But unfortunately for the neighbours,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28the view from a house is not protected by planning law.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33The officer recommendation will not change, we will recommend approval.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38It is a bit shocking, but we know. We have to make difficult decisions.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Norma and Frank have joined their neighbours and are fighting
0:04:41 > 0:04:44to stop Fiona's recommendation to allow the new estate.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48I always make pots of tea, even for one person.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52News of Fiona's support for the application means she's
0:04:52 > 0:04:55become the focus of the residents' anger.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58I think her job is a very important job and I don't think
0:04:58 > 0:05:02she quite understands the impact of her decisions.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Or maybe she does and she just doesn't care.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08I think she could look at the bigger picture and listen to the community.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13It isn't nimbyism. It's about keeping Tarporley as it is.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Your home, your front door is probably the most important
0:05:16 > 0:05:19thing to you and if that is threatened, people get very,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22very emotionally bound up in the whole process.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28If our aspiration is to be home owners, we need to provide affordable
0:05:28 > 0:05:32properties and the proposal here has a percentage of affordable housing.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37- Would you like to live here? - Tarporley? Erm, yes, I would.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40I actually don't think I could afford to live here as things
0:05:40 > 0:05:41stand at the moment.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47As head planner of Cheshire West and Chester, Fiona has
0:05:47 > 0:05:52a target of 5,000 new homes to be built before 2017 but
0:05:52 > 0:05:56while she's recommending this site for development, it would be down
0:05:56 > 0:05:58to the committee members to make the final decision.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07In Britain, conservation areas are protected by law to
0:06:07 > 0:06:10preserve their historic character.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14In August 2012, we met a Cheltenham resident who thought she'd
0:06:14 > 0:06:17put her mark on a historic property.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19I very much like living here.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23It's an ideal mix of town and country living and I love my house.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26We've spent a lot of time and money renovating it.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Geraldine Beatty owns a human resources firm.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36Her five bedroom regency semi may have undergone a £200K restoration
0:06:36 > 0:06:41since she bought it 13 years ago, but to her, it's not quite perfect.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47You'll see how many manoeuvres I have to make.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54It's not a three-point turn. It's about a seven-point turn.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01And this is what I have to do at least twice a day every single day.
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Very frustrating.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Where our two cars are currently parked, is actually
0:07:10 > 0:07:11what should be our back garden
0:07:11 > 0:07:15and actually it's the most sunny part of the garden, as well.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18It's the south facing bit which is added frustration.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Tired of having to park in her back garden, Geraldine has applied
0:07:23 > 0:07:27to create a parking space at the front, like her neighbours.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29We've employed highways consultants,
0:07:29 > 0:07:35tree specialists to draw up a plan that is going to be amenable
0:07:35 > 0:07:37to those who make the decisions.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43It's cost us a lot of money and it's probably already about £10,000.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52The planners handling her application have decided to
0:07:52 > 0:07:53make a site visit.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57As the property is in a conservation area, planner, Martin Chandler,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01has to consult conservation officer, Karen Radford.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02I think this front garden
0:08:02 > 0:08:05and the way it's at the moment really is very nice.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07That will all be lost to hard standing
0:08:07 > 0:08:10because of the turning space necessary.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14I can't see how this application will preserve
0:08:14 > 0:08:18and enhance the conservation area at all, I just don't see it.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Despite spending £10,000, the planners have decided to
0:08:24 > 0:08:28recommend refusal for Geraldine's application.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31But not all is lost. It'll be down to the elected
0:08:31 > 0:08:34members of the planning committee to make the final decision.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36They're on their way to Geraldine's.
0:08:42 > 0:08:43It's a sort of mystery tour.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50All will be revealed.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52When on site, to prevent lobbying,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55the applicant is not allowed to speak to the councillors.
0:08:55 > 0:09:00A rule which committee member, Barbara, is keen to enforce.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03- It's just going to move back. - You can't talk to us. Sorry.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12Sorry, I'm paying for this application. Don't be so unpleasant.
0:09:12 > 0:09:13The view isn't...
0:09:15 > 0:09:18We were told that we can't get into conversation with an applicant
0:09:18 > 0:09:21when we're on a planning view and I was trying to warn
0:09:21 > 0:09:26the lady that we couldn't do it, but she got her knickers in a twist.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28But...
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Apologies for the outburst. That was a bit...
0:09:31 > 0:09:35It wasn't put in the best way, perhaps.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40I'm afraid it's not my ruling. It's the council's ruling.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43They spoke to me but I'm not allowed to speak to them.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45That's bizarre behaviour.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49It's primitive and not very helpful at all.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Honestly, I find it really upsetting all of this.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56I've tried so hard to put this through
0:09:56 > 0:09:59and then for a woman who doesn't have any interest at all.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- Well.- I'm finding it quite stressful.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Well, thank you for letting us visit,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10- and we'll see you on Thursday. - Thank you.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22The committee will meet again at the council offices to
0:10:22 > 0:10:24pass their verdict on Geraldine's application.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30I've probably not helped the case at all by saying to her
0:10:30 > 0:10:33well, I'm paying for this, so why can't I speak?
0:10:35 > 0:10:40Anyway, it seems an old-fashioned weird way of behaving.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Like I'm supposed to be grateful to them.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51We'll see. I suspect it'll get turned down now.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05In May 2012, an extraordinary planning journey was about to
0:11:05 > 0:11:09start for a Gloucestershire couple and their two-year-old son.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13- What colour is that? - It's blue.- It's not blue!
0:11:13 > 0:11:15It's green, you monkey.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Your typical family.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22But not your typical family home.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35This is Elmore Court, an estate that's been
0:11:35 > 0:11:39owned by the Baronetcy of Highnam since the 13th century.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41And following 13 generations,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44is now the responsibility of Anselm Guise,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46the new Lord of the manor.
0:11:49 > 0:11:56I came here five years ago and my uncle passed away in May 2007.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00We've been here for a lot longer. We've been here for 750 years.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14That's my uncle. There's my grandfather.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17The little boy with the red hair and my great-grandfather.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21If Anselm thought that the family pile would come with
0:12:21 > 0:12:24piles of cash, he was wrong.
0:12:24 > 0:12:30The 13 cottages and six farms on his 1,250-acre estate are not
0:12:30 > 0:12:32covering the upkeep of the house.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37Running costs are about £165,000 a year.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40What's happening is I'm getting more and more overdrawn
0:12:40 > 0:12:41and we sell something.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Since I've been here, we've sold a few pictures,
0:12:44 > 0:12:50we've sold a cottage, you know, and the estate is just going to
0:12:50 > 0:12:52shrink and shrink and shrink.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56So, Anselm has come up with a plan.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59He's applied to build a wedding venue behind the mansion.
0:12:59 > 0:13:04The £600,000 he aims to turn over from the new business would
0:13:04 > 0:13:06put Elmore Court back in the black.
0:13:08 > 0:13:09In order to do events here,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13we want to hold events outside of the main house
0:13:13 > 0:13:17because the house is very old and historic and all the rest of it.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18To break even,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22the proposed venue would have to be used at least 50 times a year,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26meaning an event most weekends, and a lot of potential noise.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30And objections from local residents have started to arrive
0:13:30 > 0:13:32on planner Elly Jackson's desk.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36We've had three objections so far from neighbours.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41One main worry is the potential for noise and loud music.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44They could make a very good case that the noise
0:13:44 > 0:13:48and disturbance is going to outweigh the benefits of this scheme,
0:13:48 > 0:13:55so it's something where it's unsure as to which way it'll go now.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58And Anselm's reputation as a former DJ
0:13:58 > 0:14:01and festival organiser is not helping his cause.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06People are worried. We did have a party once.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08That was over four years ago.
0:14:08 > 0:14:14One party in five years, which was quite noisy.
0:14:14 > 0:14:19I've got one, almost two kids now and we're going to be living here.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22We can't have noise happening right by the house.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- A comet.- It's a comet?
0:14:27 > 0:14:31To silence his neighbours, Anselm's come up with an idea.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35He wants to sound proof his venue using an ancient rammed-earth
0:14:35 > 0:14:38technique, with mud from beneath the fields of his estate.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43This is a mini version of the real deal.
0:14:43 > 0:14:49You essentially put a layer of our earth and then you do another layer
0:14:49 > 0:14:52and you keep building it up until you've gone right up to the top.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54It's quite experimental and a bit crazy,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57but I think it's going to be amazing.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01You can tell how unfit I am.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Anselm is going to show his idea to Stroud's planning committee
0:15:15 > 0:15:18who are in charge of making the final decision on his
0:15:18 > 0:15:19planning application.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24- Are we near the ice cream factory? - That's the other side.- Right.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27I get confused with commons.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Joining the planning committee for her first site visit,
0:15:29 > 0:15:31is retired teacher, Liz Ashton.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37I received the papers, as we call them, on Friday.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40I had an appointment with the couch and the television all weekend
0:15:40 > 0:15:43so I've spent the last day
0:15:43 > 0:15:46and I was up at five o'clock this morning swatting it up.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Can we follow in then?
0:15:59 > 0:16:03The applicant is now proposing to use the house for wedding
0:16:03 > 0:16:08- ceremonies.- Do we actually lay down in planning a wedding venue?
0:16:09 > 0:16:13- Or is this effectively a function venue?- It's a function.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18You could have 24-hour people come into the car park, noise,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21everything like that. It couldn't just be weddings at weekends.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25It could be right through the week, seven days a week.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28The time has finally come to introduce,
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Anselm's noise abatement strategy to the councillors.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Could I draw to your attention a section of rammed-earth walling?
0:16:36 > 0:16:41- Was that just for environmental reasons, was it?- Mainly noise.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46- It's good for noise, is it? - If we don't get it, what will I do?
0:16:46 > 0:16:49I don't know. It'll be bad.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52All the people that work here will probably have to stop working
0:16:52 > 0:16:57because I won't be able to afford to keep paying their salaries.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59It's very much in the hands of the councillors once something
0:16:59 > 0:17:04goes to committee, so it has the potential to go very right
0:17:04 > 0:17:06and also the potential to go very wrong.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14In Tarporley in Cheshire, homeowners living next door to
0:17:14 > 0:17:18a field are fighting plans to build 100 houses.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21The planning committee are due to meet in a few hours' time
0:17:21 > 0:17:24to decide on the application, but with an officer
0:17:24 > 0:17:28recommending for approval, the neighbours are not confident.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32I think we've got to the stage now where we don't expect anything.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35We expect it to be approved.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37The expectation is that the planning would be approved.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39It's going to happen whatever we do.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Whatever their village does as a community, it's going to happen.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Retired RAF pilot, David, and his wife, Angela, live in a four-bedroom
0:17:47 > 0:17:49house near the proposed housing estate.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54When we moved in back in the early '90s,
0:17:54 > 0:17:59this was a green field and that development was processed
0:17:59 > 0:18:02round about two years after we moved into here.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06We had cows grazing there which we looked out on.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08We've been hemmed in over a period of time.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10But it's actually all part of the same field.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13That field that the planning permission has been
0:18:13 > 0:18:15submitted on, goes all the way round,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19so that was part of the same field originally.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21If the latest housing development goes ahead,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23they'll lose another view from their window.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27- It'll change the village for ever. - It'll change the village for ever
0:18:27 > 0:18:29and it's something that once it's done, it's done.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33But not everyone shares the objectors' views.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36I get more than slightly irritated
0:18:36 > 0:18:40when people are objecting to a development
0:18:40 > 0:18:44who live in houses that were built within the last 20 years.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46I think there is a degree of hypocrisy there
0:18:46 > 0:18:50and what they would be far better doing is accepting that there
0:18:50 > 0:18:53is a need for these communities to grow and there is an opportunity
0:18:53 > 0:18:58here for the community to benefit from the new developments.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04At Cheshire West Council headquarters, the elected members of
0:19:04 > 0:19:09the planning committee will decide if the housing scheme can go ahead.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11I'll take a couple, all right?
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Michael George will be the spokesman for the villagers.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16He's got plenty of support from his neighbours.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19It's great to see the community turn out in force.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21I think it puts a bit of pressure on councillors
0:19:21 > 0:19:24and helps focus their minds in terms of the decisions
0:19:24 > 0:19:27they are making and how it impacts local people.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29He's got three minutes to try to save
0:19:29 > 0:19:31the field at the end of his garden.
0:19:33 > 0:19:34By approving this application,
0:19:34 > 0:19:36you'll set a precedent for the building
0:19:36 > 0:19:40of nearly 300 houses in one village in a few years.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44Councillors, you have an opportunity to stand up for local people,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48local democracy and common sense by making the right decision
0:19:48 > 0:19:50and rejecting this application.
0:19:50 > 0:19:51Hear, hear!
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Planner Fiona Edwards is recommending the scheme go ahead,
0:19:59 > 0:20:03so the developers decide they don't want to address the committee.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07The councillors have to weigh up Michael's objections
0:20:07 > 0:20:09with the need for new housing.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12We're damned if we do and we're damned if we don't.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- It's a very, very difficult... - No, you're not!
0:20:15 > 0:20:19Whatever decision we take, we're in a very difficult situation.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25If we approve this application, it's irrevocable for the community.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I'm going to move rejection of this application, Chairman.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32APPLAUSE
0:20:35 > 0:20:37I'll give my reasons in a few minutes.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40The committee can't reject the plans just because the villagers object.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45They must show the scheme doesn't follow planning regulations.
0:20:45 > 0:20:52Chair, I now need credible planning reasons to record for that refusal.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58The application is contrary to local adopted plan,
0:20:58 > 0:21:03and contrary to the provision of paragraphs 11, 17 and 69.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07Just saying it's contrary to the local plan is not sufficient.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11I need specific policies and I need you to identify
0:21:11 > 0:21:14the specific harm caused to each of those policies.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17I'm sorry, councillor, but I have to have those.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20I'm sorry, I'm moving refusal and I've said those grounds
0:21:20 > 0:21:23and I'm sticking to them and not moving away from them.
0:21:23 > 0:21:24You have to accept them.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27They are contrary to the local adopted plan
0:21:27 > 0:21:29and to those three paragraphs, full stop.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32APPLAUSE
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Councillors can now vote on the fate of the field.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Those in favour of refusal of this planning application.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Six, against.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Could we have a named vote, please?
0:21:55 > 0:21:57The planning application's been refused.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59APPLAUSE
0:22:05 > 0:22:08We'll just give you a few minutes to leave if you wish.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13The committee have gone against Fiona's professional advice.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16I feel that members don't have to listen to me.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19I'm quite happy for them to disagree with my recommendations
0:22:19 > 0:22:24if they've got reasonable thoughts behind that decision-making process.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Here, you could say that perhaps it was an emotional decision
0:22:28 > 0:22:32as opposed to a reasonable decision, but that's not unexpected.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35I wouldn't have the members' job, I'd far rather my job.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38At the end of the day, we live to fight another day.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43But the residents' victory is short-lived.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46The developers immediately appeal against the decision
0:22:46 > 0:22:49and the application will be reconsidered in eight weeks.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54So a battle has been won, but the war continues.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07In Cheltenham, planning committee is about to decide on a proposal
0:23:07 > 0:23:10to create a parking space in front of a historic house.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14In preparation for the meeting, applicant Geraldine Beatty
0:23:14 > 0:23:17has hired yet another planning consultant.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21We've got four bodies of expert input that we've paid for,
0:23:21 > 0:23:25to put together the best possible proposal,
0:23:25 > 0:23:29and at best my advisor says it's 50/50.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Even though every other house in the street has a dropped kerb,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39the conservation officer opposed the application,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43saying it would destroy the original garden layout.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Geraldine hopes that the councillors will see things differently.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49I want it to be refused, that's my recommendation,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51but they are the ones who will make the decision.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Geraldine has brought her husband along for support.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56But she won't speak at the meeting.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59She has a consultant to do that.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03All the properties fronting onto Albert Road, a total of 16,
0:24:03 > 0:24:07have vehicular access to the front.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10The precedent set by this is therefore very significant.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12The impact of one more property,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16the final one in the immediate locality, having vehicular access
0:24:16 > 0:24:20to the front would not harm the conservation area.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23It's now down to the councillors to debate the application.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26And the first signs look good for Geraldine.
0:24:26 > 0:24:32Every house there has got access to a driveway from the road.
0:24:32 > 0:24:39I think...it's bordering on churlish to not approve this application.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Councillor Driver.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44But next to talk is Barbara,
0:24:44 > 0:24:48who clashed with Geraldine on the site visit.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52This house has got plenty of room at the back for parking.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57They could even move the entranceway further down and make it larger
0:24:57 > 0:25:00if they wish, if they're having trouble.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02There is no need to change the front.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06I shall vote to refuse.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08With a split of opinion in the committee,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10the councillors go to the vote.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13All those in favour of approval?
0:25:15 > 0:25:16That's six.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Those against approval.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20That is seven.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23It is refused, thank you.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Regardless of the money Geraldine spent on getting expert advice,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32the planners have had their way.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34And so has Barbara.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37I don't vote on whether I like somebody or don't like somebody,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39or indeed do I know them.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42I vote on the issues that are there.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51What do we do now?
0:25:51 > 0:25:53I think we sleep on it, to be honest.
0:25:57 > 0:26:03I have spent in total about £15,000 and it has got us nowhere.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06It's the end of the road for Geraldine.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10She will have to look for a completely different parking solution.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21In the spring of 2012 we followed entrepreneur Danny Lees
0:26:21 > 0:26:23and his Jack Russell, Bertie,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26as they prepared to take on the planners.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27Oh, he's a brilliant dog.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29I'll miss him when he goes.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31He's 13 now.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34I brought him home in the front of my shirt from a pub.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37I bought him for 50 quid in a pub.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Cracking dog.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43Danny made his money making industrial doors
0:26:43 > 0:26:46and spends it doing up run-down barns and houses.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50That was derelict, and we turned it into that.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Over about two years, I built that.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57That was the downstairs bathroom.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00His own house used to be an old stone cottage,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03which he flattened and rebuilt from scratch two years ago.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06It's in a conservation area.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09So they wouldn't let me go much bigger.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Stuck to the roofs but we went down below them, put a basement in.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18It was called Stone Cottage so I decided to build it in stone.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Just put some nice stone features on the corners
0:27:20 > 0:27:24to make it look olde worlde.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29There's a nice feature there, everybody goes mad for Bully.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34There's me Jack Russell on this end of the building.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I put me mark on that.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44Every house I've built since I started, they're just unique to me.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49Can't wait to get stuck into this pub and getting cracking with that.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Danny's latest purchase is the Farmer's Arms,
0:27:52 > 0:27:56a historic pub in the village of Huxley.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Part of the pub was used as a military hospital
0:27:58 > 0:28:00during the Napoleonic Wars.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03But after two centuries in operation,
0:28:03 > 0:28:05the last pint was pulled two months ago.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Come on, Bertie.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Danny's plan is to flatten the Farmer's Arms
0:28:14 > 0:28:17and rebuild it in his own way
0:28:17 > 0:28:19This was the restaurant.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20It's rotten as a pear.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24If you look at all the damp and everything in the walls.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27We've got to build a new cellar, the cellar's collapsed in this one.
0:28:27 > 0:28:31You're better to knock it down and rebuild.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36I keep pinching myself thinking I'm mad, but...
0:28:36 > 0:28:39can't wait to get cracking.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42You can imagine out here, tables and chairs,
0:28:42 > 0:28:46looking over the view having your lunch of a day like today.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49Nice steak, half a roast duck,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52olde worlde food.
0:28:52 > 0:28:53You have to leave the pies to me.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56I make the best pies in the world.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Come on, let's go.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07Danny has submitted his plans for public consultation.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10But not even the local historical society
0:29:10 > 0:29:13objects to losing their 200-year-old pub.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Realistically, a building has a natural life.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18When it comes to the end of that natural life,
0:29:18 > 0:29:21it's important that the function's not lost,
0:29:21 > 0:29:24but the building itself can be another incarnation.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26We certainly need a pub in the village,
0:29:26 > 0:29:30because every village has to have a pub, to be its heart.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33Great. Very needed in the village...
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Danny has public support.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45But before he can knock down the old pub,
0:29:45 > 0:29:50conservation officer John Healey needs to decide if it's worth saving.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53It's very charming, very typical rather than exceptional.
0:29:53 > 0:29:58It's representative of something that is becoming rarer and rarer,
0:29:58 > 0:30:02and that is something which originated as a public house
0:30:02 > 0:30:05in the true sense of the word. In other words, it was a small cottage
0:30:05 > 0:30:09which basically served home brew in a domestic setting.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13The age of the building and the amount of original fabric
0:30:13 > 0:30:17surviving internally and externally is also providing
0:30:17 > 0:30:20strong justification for the retention of the building.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25Unfortunately, there is a mindset here to provide a completely new building.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28The place would be sadder for its loss.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34With John recommending refusal for Danny's application,
0:30:34 > 0:30:36he's preparing for the worst.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41If I couldn't take it down, I'd have to put it back on the market again.
0:30:41 > 0:30:42Simple as that.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53It's three weeks since plans to build houses on a field in Tarporley
0:30:53 > 0:30:55were rejected by Cheshire Council.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59The developers have appealed against the decision.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02I've been up the high street today and so many people have had
0:31:02 > 0:31:04these little letters saying it's been rejected.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06"We've won, we've won!"
0:31:06 > 0:31:09No, no, not yet. You've got to wait.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13Since the committee meeting, the locals have complained
0:31:13 > 0:31:17about the way head planner Fiona handled the application.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20They made a complaint about me
0:31:20 > 0:31:22and they went through our complaint system,
0:31:22 > 0:31:25and everybody's entitled to make a complaint, that's right and proper.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28The ombudsman found there wasn't a complaint to uphold.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32The thing people get worked up about is when that green field
0:31:32 > 0:31:35that they've looked out on for five, ten, 15 years
0:31:35 > 0:31:38is going to be developed, and that's the thing that upsets them.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41It's as if she's made her mind up a long time ago,
0:31:41 > 0:31:44that this application should be approved, and that's it,
0:31:44 > 0:31:47no matter what people say, or what evidence we put in front of her,
0:31:47 > 0:31:51whatever regulations or planning policies that we quote,
0:31:51 > 0:31:55she just turns round and says, "No. Not interested."
0:31:55 > 0:31:58If there's something that we feel very frustrated about,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01that we can't change, it's easier to blame somebody else.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04It's easy to blame somebody rather than actually
0:32:04 > 0:32:06take some action to change a system.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09I suspect some of the objectors would say
0:32:09 > 0:32:12that I'm a very hard person, I'm very difficult to deal with
0:32:12 > 0:32:15and I'm quite scary, but I'd like to believe in real life I'm not.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22The application is now out of Fiona's hands
0:32:22 > 0:32:24and those of the local planning committee
0:32:24 > 0:32:28and down to the government-appointed inspector to decide.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31My name is Keith Manning and I'm a chartered town planner.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34I've been appointed by the Secretary of State
0:32:34 > 0:32:36to determine this appeal.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40You could almost say it's a bit like a court of law.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43The planning inspector who's appointed from the inspectorate
0:32:43 > 0:32:48will sit as the judge, and there's no jury,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51and there will be expert witnesses on both sides
0:32:51 > 0:32:53cross-examined by the other parties.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57The appeal is scheduled to take nine months
0:32:57 > 0:32:59and will consider everyone's views...
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Yeah, I think your shoes are probably clean by now.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06..including that from Norma and Frank's bedroom.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09You can have two vantage points, one from the study
0:33:09 > 0:33:11and one from the bedroom.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16So that's... We're at the high point?
0:33:16 > 0:33:19Even if it goes against us,
0:33:19 > 0:33:21I think he'll have taken everything into account
0:33:21 > 0:33:23and given us a fair hearing.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Who's going to determine the output? Would you like to bet on it?
0:33:27 > 0:33:29I wouldn't.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31I wouldn't bet because I'm a Scotsman
0:33:31 > 0:33:35and Scotsmen don't give money away easily.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39I would imagine that little line there is the edge.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43These are the buildings.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45How do you think this is going to go?
0:33:45 > 0:33:47Absolutely honest, I don't know.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50I mean, it used to be it wasn't the amount of objection,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52it was the substance of the objection.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56It will be interesting to see if amount outweighs substance.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59We won't know that until the inquiry has finished,
0:33:59 > 0:34:01so the wait for Tarporley goes on.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13Come on, Bertie. There's a good lad.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15In the Cheshire village of Huxley,
0:34:15 > 0:34:19the 200-year-old Farmer's Arms is facing total demolition.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21Self-made millionaire Danny Lees wants to flatten it
0:34:21 > 0:34:25and put a new pub and restaurant in its place.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27I don't count my chickens before they hatch.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30We're going to get on with it
0:34:30 > 0:34:32and going back a bit olde worlde,
0:34:32 > 0:34:34there'll be nothing modern about that pub,
0:34:34 > 0:34:36but it'll be class.
0:34:36 > 0:34:42I got all ten out of these out of Altrincham Railway Station.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44They're going to be the beer garden.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54Conservation officer John Healey recommended the building be saved.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56But with no official historic listing,
0:34:56 > 0:34:59the final decision is down to the planners.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05He's got quite big living accommodation.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07He's basically showing two flats above,
0:35:07 > 0:35:10so he's got living accommodation for staff.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13He's got predominantly a large lounge and restaurant,
0:35:13 > 0:35:16and a decent kitchen to actually serve the restaurant,
0:35:16 > 0:35:18so economically it is important.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20It might only create one, two or three jobs,
0:35:20 > 0:35:23but in this day and age it's good to get any jobs created.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27It retains wealth within the borough.
0:35:27 > 0:35:32Just because it's survived doesn't mean it's of sufficient merit to warrant its retention.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35In this instance, we're taking a pragmatic view
0:35:35 > 0:35:37and we're going to recommend approval.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41This time, Conservation Officer John Healey has been overruled.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44His word's not law.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48We do take his advice on the board, we don't always agree with him.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52I would say 85% of the time we do
0:35:52 > 0:35:55but sometimes we have to agree to differ, because we have
0:35:55 > 0:35:58perhaps a slightly different agenda. We're about promoting growth
0:35:58 > 0:36:02and sustainable growth, and John is perhaps more about
0:36:02 > 0:36:06preserving what he considers is good of the past.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22Over in Huxley, Danny wastes no time in pulling down the Farmer's Arms.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26He's even bought his own digger.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30I'm glad they saw sense and let us get on with it.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32At the end of the day, wasted a lot of time
0:36:32 > 0:36:35and I'm trying to employ people.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39At the end of the day, when it's here and up and running,
0:36:39 > 0:36:41it will be an asset for the area.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49It's a sad end to it, really, isn't it?
0:36:49 > 0:36:52It's a...pile of rubble.
0:36:52 > 0:37:00We have lost a part of the historic environment of the district.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13In Stroud, the planning committee is about to meet to decide
0:37:13 > 0:37:14the future of Elmore Court.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Anselm Guise recently inherited the 13th-century house
0:37:19 > 0:37:21and its many treasures.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26Here we go. Miss Florence Nightingale, 1820.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30Charles Dickens, he's got a hell of a signature.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Check it out. Charles Dickens's signature.
0:37:32 > 0:37:36There's nervousness. The planning thing is a big thing.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40If we don't get it, we've probably got to sell the whole place
0:37:40 > 0:37:43or at least seriously consider it.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Once or twice a week, I wake up at four in the morning, I'm like...
0:37:47 > 0:37:49HE GASPS
0:37:49 > 0:37:51I can't stop thinking about it and have to go downstairs
0:37:51 > 0:37:54and drink coffee, make myself think about it more.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59The future of everything is in these people's hands.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03At the council chambers,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Anselm's application is about to go before committee.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09His family have come out to see what the future holds
0:38:09 > 0:38:11for their ancestral home,
0:38:11 > 0:38:14and his seven staff, to see what it holds for their jobs.
0:38:14 > 0:38:19But Anselm's party past threatens both.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21Part of the objection is this sort of attitude that he wants
0:38:21 > 0:38:24to build a nightclub round the back, which I think is really funny.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28I shouldn't say that, because it's someone's legitimate concern,
0:38:28 > 0:38:32but we've got a child who's due, we've got another one on the way.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35Also, the idea of having a nightclub in Elmore is quite funny.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42The objectors won't be speaking at the meeting.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46They're hoping that the planners' reports raise their worries about noise.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Anselm has three minutes to present his case.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56I believe there is someone who would like to speak on behalf of the application.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58Would you come forward now, please.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Dear committee members, my family has been living at Elmore
0:39:03 > 0:39:07for 750 years. The house was built to entertain.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10The plan is to primarily create a catered events space.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13It has been designed so that when music is played inside it,
0:39:13 > 0:39:17it'll actually be quieter than the sound of someone breathing normally
0:39:17 > 0:39:19in the gardens of our neighbours.
0:39:19 > 0:39:20Should you grant us permission,
0:39:20 > 0:39:23we will create something that is great for Elmore.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26Please give us the green light to do this. Thank you.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35Now it's down to the committee to decide the fate of Elmore Court.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37It's come to a vote.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Contenders on the table as per officer advice.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44All those in favour, please, show.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47That is unanimous for this to go.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49APPLAUSE
0:39:54 > 0:39:59So I just wanted to say... wicked!
0:40:02 > 0:40:06We got it and thanks very much to everyone.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09So, cheers to Stroud District Council.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15Well done, Anselm!
0:40:22 > 0:40:26Securing planning permission in September 2012
0:40:26 > 0:40:29was just the first step to securing Elmore's future.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Anselm managed to convince the planners to let him
0:40:36 > 0:40:38build his walls out of rammed earth.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Eight months later he's having a tougher time
0:40:40 > 0:40:42convincing the earth to stay in place.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46They are having a real problem because the clay is not sticking to the metal,
0:40:46 > 0:40:50and when you ram it, it vibrates the metal,
0:40:50 > 0:40:52and then it all pings off.
0:40:52 > 0:40:57This is the entrance so it's got to look like this.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03It's not good enough if it's not looking perfect.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06The rain's been coming in now over the last couple of weeks.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08It's virtually impossible to keep it out.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11Those little areas that had water,
0:41:11 > 0:41:15they need to pulled out and redone again.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19Anselm was hoping to spend £600,000 on the build
0:41:19 > 0:41:22but he will have to fork out another 240,000
0:41:22 > 0:41:24as a result of these hold-ups.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26My budget's overrun a bit,
0:41:26 > 0:41:30enough for me to have to go the bank and say,
0:41:30 > 0:41:33"It's going to cost a little bit more than I originally said to you."
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Now I've got to get bookings in to pay for the increase
0:41:36 > 0:41:38on the cost of the whole project.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40After successfully taking on the planning committee
0:41:40 > 0:41:45and the bank manager, Anselm's final battle is against time.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49We have our launch party on the 25th October.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53The schedule end is...
0:41:53 > 0:41:5625th October
0:41:56 > 0:42:00So...a little bit stressful.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13In Tarporley, Cheshire, it's been 15 months
0:42:13 > 0:42:16since a planning inspector was appointed by the Government
0:42:16 > 0:42:21to decide on an application to build 100 new houses on a green field.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23The decision has finally come.
0:42:23 > 0:42:2729th of August this year, the Tarporley decision was published.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32We were all...what's the decision going to be?
0:42:32 > 0:42:36Someone came in and said a decision had been made.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40We've had a pretty torrid time in the last few months
0:42:40 > 0:42:44with indecision. I think that's the most dangerous situation of all.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48The inspector's recommendation was that the appeal should be dismissed.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50In other words, planning permission shouldn't be granted.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53The refusal of the scheme by the planning inspector
0:42:53 > 0:42:58was a victory for local objectors, but celebrations didn't last long.
0:42:58 > 0:42:59I read the first bit
0:42:59 > 0:43:01about the inspector recommended that it be refused,
0:43:01 > 0:43:05got quite excited, only to be dealt a real blow.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11Unfortunately for these objectors, the planning inspectorate
0:43:11 > 0:43:14is only the second highest planning authority in the UK.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17Central government is where the buck stops.
0:43:17 > 0:43:21The inspector's decision is final,
0:43:21 > 0:43:24except in a small number of cases,
0:43:24 > 0:43:28the Secretary of State may decide to recover an appeal.
0:43:28 > 0:43:32What that means is the Secretary of State can take over
0:43:32 > 0:43:34the final decision making.
0:43:34 > 0:43:37That's quite proper, because he is democratically elected.
0:43:37 > 0:43:41The proposal to build 100 houses on green belt land in Tarporley
0:43:41 > 0:43:44became a matter of national importance
0:43:44 > 0:43:47and once again hung in the balance.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49That is a total of 20,000 cases a year.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52The number of times that the appeal is recovered
0:43:52 > 0:43:56by the Secretary of State is very small indeed.
0:43:56 > 0:43:59Nevertheless, they will be significant appeals.
0:43:59 > 0:44:03They will be appears where there are national policy implications.
0:44:03 > 0:44:07The current Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
0:44:07 > 0:44:10is Eric Pickles MP.
0:44:10 > 0:44:14He was chosen by the Prime Minister to enforce Government's policy
0:44:14 > 0:44:16in matters relating to planning.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19We inherited the lowest level of house building
0:44:19 > 0:44:21since 1924.
0:44:21 > 0:44:25It's going to take some time to recover from that.
0:44:25 > 0:44:29What we need to ensure is that people start to plan
0:44:29 > 0:44:33a reasonable level of housing for their location.
0:44:33 > 0:44:38And Eric Pickles's final decision on the Tarporley application
0:44:38 > 0:44:42was that the 100 proposed houses should be built.
0:44:43 > 0:44:45The Secretary of State said,
0:44:45 > 0:44:48you haven't got the housing land supply at the time this appeal was heard,
0:44:48 > 0:44:51and he determined that planning permission should be granted.
0:44:51 > 0:44:53That's the decision that we have.
0:44:53 > 0:44:58Throughout the whole long-running saga of the Tarporley development,
0:44:58 > 0:45:00taking us probably the best part of two years,
0:45:00 > 0:45:03the appellants have got their planning permission at the end of the day.
0:45:03 > 0:45:07We know we need more housing, we're not stupid people.
0:45:07 > 0:45:11But developed and positioned by the people that live in the village.
0:45:11 > 0:45:13- Exactly. - Which is the important thing.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15Not by some faceless gnome in Westminster.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18If the Secretary of State has never been here,
0:45:18 > 0:45:21how the hell does he know what the village is like?
0:45:21 > 0:45:24Head Planner Fiona had originally recommended approval
0:45:24 > 0:45:28for the scheme much to the disgust of the local population.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31I'm sure she's feeling very smug.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35I'm sure she's thinking, "That's the decision I wanted anyway.
0:45:35 > 0:45:37"Wasn't I right?"
0:45:37 > 0:45:40I didn't celebrate! I didn't celebrate.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43There's nothing to celebrate, it isn't about winning.
0:45:43 > 0:45:47It's about getting development in the right place. You're not going to get me ever to say I celebrated.
0:45:47 > 0:45:50It's not going to happen. Not on camera!
0:45:51 > 0:45:55One shouldn't celebrate the decision, so much as say
0:45:55 > 0:45:57that there is a positive side to it.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59As more houses are developed,
0:45:59 > 0:46:03there is no doubt that the community becomes a stronger community
0:46:03 > 0:46:05and the high street of Tarporley
0:46:05 > 0:46:08does rely heavily on the community spirit and the good will locally.
0:46:17 > 0:46:21In Cheltenham, it's been 10 months since Geraldine Beatty
0:46:21 > 0:46:24lost her battle with the planners over a parking space,
0:46:24 > 0:46:26and £15,000 in consultancy fees.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30Now, she has found a solution to her parking problems.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33One which bypasses the planners completely.
0:46:33 > 0:46:37So we can basically go to the estate agent and pick up the keys now?
0:46:37 > 0:46:40Cheers then! Bye!
0:46:42 > 0:46:43It's done.
0:46:47 > 0:46:50We now own another house.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57Geraldine has sold her house of 13 years
0:46:57 > 0:47:00for twice the price she paid for it.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03The profit may be big, but leaving the house is not easy.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10The house for me is almost perfection.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13It's like stepping out of a show house when I walk out the door.
0:47:13 > 0:47:18It's beautiful, it's lovely and I enjoy living here.
0:47:18 > 0:47:23Parking at the back is the one blot on the landscape.
0:47:23 > 0:47:27If we had the drive approved we would have stayed living here,
0:47:27 > 0:47:29but that's obviously not possible.
0:47:29 > 0:47:33Goodbye, house! It's been good.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39Losing her planning battle has driven Geraldine away.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42Soon the new owner will take possession of her house.
0:47:42 > 0:47:49We've put together a list of things she should know about.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52- Handover.- The perils of planning...?
0:47:52 > 0:47:57Haven't mentioned that at all! Haven't mentioned planning.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00Jim, you've got to reverse out that drive one last time.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03Beep, beep, beep! Beep, beep, beep!
0:48:09 > 0:48:13For her new property, Geraldine decided not to scrimp
0:48:13 > 0:48:15on access and parking.
0:48:15 > 0:48:19This is the driveway to our new house we're just about to get onto.
0:48:19 > 0:48:21As you can see, it's quite a big drive.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24Can take about a minute to drive up the drive.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31It's a bit different, isn't it?
0:48:31 > 0:48:34Here we are! New adventure.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38Here's my husband arriving at his new house.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47We're all here and we've all fitted on the drive!
0:48:48 > 0:48:51But Geraldine's bad experience with planning has not
0:48:51 > 0:48:53put her off home improvements.
0:48:53 > 0:48:59I'd like this to be a garden room, so oak timber, oak frame,
0:48:59 > 0:49:01with a roof, a proper roof.
0:49:01 > 0:49:05Her next dream is to transform her 1970s house
0:49:05 > 0:49:08into a traditional Cotswolds country house,
0:49:08 > 0:49:11all of which will require planning permission.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14I've learnt how the process works.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16I'm not saying it was £15,000 well spent,
0:49:16 > 0:49:21but I'm sure it will stand me in good stead.
0:49:21 > 0:49:26It's really useful to understand that you are dealing with lay people,
0:49:26 > 0:49:31therefore you present yourselves in a way that appeals on a personal level.
0:49:31 > 0:49:35And...site visits, they're entitled to do one,
0:49:35 > 0:49:40so I can't tell them not to, but I'd probably stay out of the way.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45At least Geraldine won't have to deal
0:49:45 > 0:49:49with Councillor Barbara Driver any more, as her new house
0:49:49 > 0:49:51is outside the Cheltenham borough boundary.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54What would Barbara Driver make of this place?
0:49:54 > 0:49:58She'd probably be jealous. She'd probably wish she lived here.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01With a garden like this!
0:50:10 > 0:50:14Just over 12 months ago in Huxley, Cheshire,
0:50:14 > 0:50:19millionaire Danny Lees demolished the 200-year-old Farmer's Arms pub.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21Is there any part of you that is sad at getting rid of that?
0:50:21 > 0:50:23None whatsoever.
0:50:23 > 0:50:25What do you think when you look at that now?
0:50:25 > 0:50:28Bag of...whatdoyoucallit.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31Here you are, Bertie.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33He's 15 in a fortnight.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36He's a bit fussy. You can see he's a bit anorexic.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39A bit undernourished.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44As Danny prepares to visit the building site,
0:50:44 > 0:50:46he is determined to show his objectors
0:50:46 > 0:50:49that he won't make a dog's dinner of the new pub.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51This will be something special, you mark my words.
0:50:51 > 0:50:55When you see this finished, it will be summat special.
0:50:55 > 0:50:59It won't be corny, there's nothing plastic in it.
0:50:59 > 0:51:03There's the roof in the distance.
0:51:05 > 0:51:09The new Farmer's Arms is double the size of the old one.
0:51:09 > 0:51:13Danny used new bricks designed to have the appearance
0:51:13 > 0:51:14of old reclaimed ones.
0:51:17 > 0:51:20This is going to be state of the art kitchen.
0:51:20 > 0:51:25All freshly prepared. We're even going to cut our own carcasses up.
0:51:25 > 0:51:27Sides of the beef and all the rest of it.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29Sunday dinner will be second to none.
0:51:29 > 0:51:32You can have half a roast duck, anything you want.
0:51:32 > 0:51:36There'll be nothing frozen. The only thing frozen here is ice.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41Thank God for the planners, they let us have planning permission,
0:51:41 > 0:51:43otherwise this wouldn't have been here now.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46There'd be half a dozen houses. Gone forever.
0:51:46 > 0:51:50The new Farmer's Arms may only be a building site
0:51:50 > 0:51:53but a Huxley resident has already reserved it
0:51:53 > 0:51:56for his 60th birthday party in nine months' time.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01People see it being built now
0:52:01 > 0:52:04and they know they're going to get what I promised, a pub.
0:52:04 > 0:52:08The local pub for the locals.
0:52:09 > 0:52:13Are you OK, are you going to have a bit of lunch? Lovely.
0:52:13 > 0:52:19Is this your local? Oh, no, all right.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23Danny's inspiration for the interiors of the new pub
0:52:23 > 0:52:26was Joule's Brewery in Market Drayton.
0:52:26 > 0:52:29This is what we are going to replicate for the pub.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33It'll give it a nice olde worlde effect. You can see the oak beams,
0:52:33 > 0:52:38log burner, nice and countrified for the locals.
0:52:38 > 0:52:42I think John Healey will be pleased when he sees that going in.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46Summat you'll not see ever again anywhere else.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50Apart from Joule's Brewery in Market Drayton.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01But one thing Danny hasn't decided on yet
0:53:01 > 0:53:04is the main entrance door to the pub.
0:53:04 > 0:53:08As he visits the joinery, he hopes his experience in the field
0:53:08 > 0:53:10will guide him in his choice.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13I've been in doors for 30 years, only big industrial stuff.
0:53:13 > 0:53:16I know what quality's about.
0:53:16 > 0:53:21Used to call me Danny Doors. They used to call my missus Diana Dors!
0:53:21 > 0:53:23Just want to have a look at this door here.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25This is exactly what we'll have on the pub.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28Speaks for itself, don't it? Once you walk in a door like that,
0:53:28 > 0:53:31you think you're somewhere. You're there, you've arrived.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33- Lock them in, keep them in. - Absolutely.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36Get that steak pie on the table for them.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38Go on, Bert.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44Danny hopes the Farmer's Arms's new front door
0:53:44 > 0:53:48will be open to the public in seven months' time.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51But for now, another day's work is done for him and Bertie.
0:53:51 > 0:53:53Come on, Bertie.
0:53:53 > 0:53:56The stuff that's in here now, God, look at the finials up on the roof.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59Be there for another 500 years.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03Don't know whether they'll need pubs then, it'll be all tablets.
0:54:03 > 0:54:05Protein tablets.
0:54:06 > 0:54:08Come on, Bertie.
0:54:10 > 0:54:12I'll miss him when he goes, I'll tell you.
0:54:12 > 0:54:15I might have him stuffed.
0:54:26 > 0:54:28In Elmore, Gloucestershire,
0:54:28 > 0:54:31Anselm Guise is still trying to catch up
0:54:31 > 0:54:33with the building schedule for his new party venue.
0:54:33 > 0:54:35Have I got my lighter? Yes.
0:54:35 > 0:54:37Really need to smoke a lot at the moment.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41Anselm has invited the great and the good of Gloucestershire
0:54:41 > 0:54:44to the opening party of the new building which is due to take place
0:54:44 > 0:54:49in just 48 hours. But for now, the place is still a building site.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52The glasses were supposed to arrive day before yesterday.
0:54:52 > 0:54:56Didn't arrive. I got a text message from John at four this morning,
0:54:56 > 0:54:59saying I'm going up to Birmingham to go and get it.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02I'll be there at six and I'll be back at 8:30.
0:55:02 > 0:55:05It's going in now so just in the nick of time.
0:55:05 > 0:55:07If he hadn't gone up to get it...?
0:55:07 > 0:55:11We'd have had to cancel tonight, or done it without any music,
0:55:11 > 0:55:13which would have been rubbish.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15The council is also breathing down Anselm's neck.
0:55:15 > 0:55:19As soon as the glass is up, they will want confirmation
0:55:19 > 0:55:23that the building is soundproof before it's used for functions.
0:55:23 > 0:55:27You can get it up to 95 dB inside the building.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30They'll see what the levels are out here.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33The whole point of this is to show you can have a party here
0:55:33 > 0:55:34and no-one can hear a thing.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38Which is part of our conditions, the planning.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42If these mud walls fail to keep the 5000W generated
0:55:42 > 0:55:45by Anselm's sound system within the building,
0:55:45 > 0:55:49he will have spent £840,000 for nothing.
0:55:50 > 0:55:54LOUD MUSIC PLAYS
0:55:57 > 0:55:59So 50, 32...
0:55:59 > 0:56:02- 32.- Quite a big drop.- It is, yeah.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05- It gets really flat.- It's weird.
0:56:05 > 0:56:09You still have a fly on your moustache.
0:56:09 > 0:56:12I want to see what it sounds like outside.
0:56:17 > 0:56:18HE YELLS
0:56:18 > 0:56:20That is amazing!
0:56:20 > 0:56:24There's a big sound system in there, and you can't hear it!
0:56:25 > 0:56:30With virtually no noise escaping the building, Anselm gets the all clear.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33- Wonderful, so that's it? - That's it, yeah.
0:56:33 > 0:56:36Wonderful. Thank you very much indeed.
0:56:39 > 0:56:42Which means that his party can finally take place.
0:56:42 > 0:56:46Tonight, 750 years after Elmore Court was first built,
0:56:46 > 0:56:51its newly designed party venue will open its doors to the public.
0:56:51 > 0:56:53I'm really, really pleased with it.
0:56:53 > 0:56:55Really pleased with it.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58I've got a party venue behind my house.
0:56:58 > 0:57:01Of course it's my dream come true.
0:57:02 > 0:57:07It's weird thinking back on the whole process,
0:57:07 > 0:57:1018 months ago when we were
0:57:10 > 0:57:13asking permission from the authorities to do it.
0:57:16 > 0:57:19Anselm's scheme to secure the economic survival
0:57:19 > 0:57:22of his ancestral home has finally come together.
0:57:22 > 0:57:25The first paying guests have now checked in,
0:57:25 > 0:57:28in the historic part of the house.
0:57:28 > 0:57:30There's a couple of guests staying here,
0:57:30 > 0:57:32the spreadsheet had them the wrong way around.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35I went upstairs and showed this lady called Mel her room,
0:57:35 > 0:57:38and I walked into the room
0:57:38 > 0:57:42and there's another girl I've never met and her boyfriend
0:57:42 > 0:57:45having a little moment on the bed!
0:57:45 > 0:57:46It was like, "Oh, hello!"
0:57:50 > 0:57:52But the real climax of the evening
0:57:52 > 0:57:55will be the opening of the new venue.
0:57:58 > 0:58:02The whole build started when I had a nine-day-old baby.
0:58:04 > 0:58:08It's been very difficult but I think every inch of work has paid off.
0:58:11 > 0:58:14It's a world away from the place where Anselm's dad,
0:58:14 > 0:58:16the Baronet of Highnam, grew up.
0:58:18 > 0:58:23I lived in this house as a boy, as a young man.
0:58:23 > 0:58:26It's better now than it has ever been in my lifetime.
0:58:26 > 0:58:30The whole place might have been sold, and as it is,
0:58:30 > 0:58:32it's going to keep going.
0:58:32 > 0:58:34How about the new extension?
0:58:34 > 0:58:36Amazing. Amazing! Isn't it?
0:58:36 > 0:58:38Noisy!