Old Hunstanton new build home on Wodehouse Road causes furious row in village with fraud accusations for West Norfolk Council

A heated debate over a ‘grand design’ home that was built larger than planned has erupted when neighbours accused the council of fraudulent behavior.

They have referred West Norfolk Council’s planning department to a fraud helpline in connection with a disagreement over a three-story property on Wodehouse Road, an aristocratic thoroughfare in Old Hunstanton known as Millionaire’s Row.

The street is named after novelist PG Wodehouse, who visited the area frequently and drew inspiration for his Jeeves and Wooster series from its green environs.

Neighbors claim the new building violates planning laws since it differs significantly from the previous application, which was accepted by councillors – with an additional storey on top.

They further claim that the council committed fraud by misrepresenting the original designs and asserting that the extra floor was always there.

The fraud investigation was revealed as councillors met to consider what action to take regarding the property.
It follows homeowner Henry Middleton’s retrospective appeal to West Norfolk Council in the hopes of obtaining approval for the house’s design after it was built differently than the authorized designs.

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He says that the original application has only undergone “small alterations”.

However, the prolonged problem has sparked outrage in the community, with councillors and officers harassed with nasty phone calls from disgruntled neighbours who claim the property is too huge.

Michael Oldham, who lives close, is one among those outraged by the plans. He reported the council to Action Fraud, which then forwarded the matter to the National Fraud and Intelligence Bureau.

West Norfolk Council’s monitoring officer has denied any allegations of fraud, stating that the argument is over the interpretation of a previously granted planning application rather than a fraudulent act.

GRAND DESIGN REFUSED

Amid allegations of fraud, councillors convened this week to decide the destiny of the home.
Patricia Eckersall, who lives close, addressed the matter of fraud again at the planning committee meeting, pointing out that it was listed as a two-story property in many earlier council reports.
Tensions are so high in the community that councillor Tom de Winton, who represents Old Hunstanton, criticized both the applicant and the people’ behavior at the meeting.

He stated, “People have been rude and disrespectful to the council.” I don’t like officers being bullied.”

During the subsequent conversation, there was further uncertainty over how the home was built differently.

Officers revealed that the stairway leading to the first-floor balcony had been installed two meters from where it was initially allowed.

Some portions of land have also been lifted by 50 cm.
The improvements raised worries that neighbours are being disregarded and overshadowed by the property.

Councillor Vivienne Spikings rejected the proposal to plant greenery to create privacy.

She said, “Trying to fix this with a green fence is terrible planning. “I disagree with this.”

Councillor Martin Storey stated that there were approximately 21 deviations from the original plans.

“We do not want to be taken for a ride,” he told us.
Following a lengthy debate, councillors opted to reject the application.
This indicates that enforcement officers will now explore what steps to take.

This might entail the homeowner being forced to reconstruct the home according to the authorized blueprints.

Mr Middleton may also seek to appeal the decision, which would result in a ruling from the Planning Inspectorate, the government department in charge of planning disputes.

Terry Parish, chairman of the committee, urged for the home to be completed according to the original plans and welcomed any challenge to their decision.

“I do not want to see any wriggle room on this,” he told me.

“I would be more than pleased to write a letter to the inspector.”