Norfolk couple made homeless after planning faux-pas

Eric Goodman and partner Penelope Blake built themselves a wooden lodge in the grounds of their farmhouse, in Itteringham, near Aylsham.

When the time was right, they sold the house, Robin Farm, and moved into the lodge, which they called the Muster.

Or at least that was the idea.

The Muster in Itteringham - a property built as an annexe that has become the focus of a decade-long planning dispute (Image: North Norfolk District Council)

Instead, a planning faux pas launched them into a years-long dispute with the local council which has seen them living in a tent directly outside the property because officials say they are not allowed to live there.

The problem for the couple is that when they built the Muster, they got permission from North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) to use it as an annexe.

Now that they do not own the original property, it cannot be considered as one.

And so began their extraordinary battle with officials, which has cost them tens of thousands of pounds.

The couple are now on their ninth attempt at gaining permission to live in their property.

And the issue could finally be approaching resolution after government officials from the Planning Inspectorate were called in to adjudicate.

They are expected to issue a ruling later this year on whether or not the couple can stay in the home.The 'Willow Shed' forms half of the property known as the Muster, which was built as an annexe and studio/office (Image: North Norfolk District Council)

ANNEXE MISHAP

Mr Goodman, a former antiques dealer and property developer, and Ms Blake, an artist specialising in willow weaving, had lived happily at Robin Farm for more than 40 years, where they kept a muster of peacocks and enjoyed spending time in the garden.

In 2008, they built an annexe and studio - a single building detached from the main farmhouse.

They later gained permission for the outbuilding, known as the Muster after the surrounding peacocks, to be used as holiday accommodation.

This followed failed attempts to change its use to a separate residential building.

Penelope Blake and Eric Goodman outside the Muster in Itteringham, which they have been told they cannot live in (Image: Denise Bradley)

"Everything is kosher environmentally, we are not impacting anyone living here," said Mr Goodman, 83.

 In 2016, they made plans to sell the main farmhouse and half the land and move into the annexe, where they intended to live part of the year and rent out to visitors for the rest of the time.

'YOU CAN'T LIVE THERE'

But this is where things went awry as, after they sold the property and made the move, they were told they had breached planning regulations and that they could not live there.

NNDC said that by splitting the land, the annexe had become severed from its ties to the main farmhouse, meaning it was "not an annexe to anything", making the planning permission void.

The property therefore became technically redundant and unoccupied despite the couple living there.

This sparked the planning row that continues to this day and resulted in Mr Goodman and Ms Blake being forced out of the Muster after NNDC took enforcement action.

Itteringham's village church, which is a short walk from Robin Farmhouse and the Muster (Image: Newsquest)

BOOTED OUT

Since 2016, the couple - who have no other property - have been left in limbo wondering if they will ever legally be allowed to live in their home.

They have tried many different ways to get permission. All have so far have failed.

In total, there have been nine attempts to gain planning permission for the Muster which includes three appeals to the Planning Inspectorate and one attempt at a High Court battle - which judges threw out as having "no arguable grounds".

NNDC have refused permission for the building to be used as a residential property, believing it to be too isolated and therefore in conflict with its local plan that aims to reduce the need for car travel.

Eric Goodman and Penelope Blake built the Muster in 2008 (Image: NNDC)

"The council say it is too remote but that is part of its charm," said Mr Goodman, adding that it is only a short distance to Aylsham - about four miles away.

Over the last eight years, they have continued living there on and off, which has left other villagers frustrated that they are seemingly breaking the rules.

The new owners of Robin Farm, who bought the main house from the couple in 2016, said: "This long-term dispute and this latest appeal now seems a waste of a lot of people's energy and effort.

"Can they keep rewriting and appealing their own story every year or so with all the associated effort and legal /council/ government costs etc in perpetuity?"

Another neighbour said: "Villagers have observed smoke coming from the chimney. They are basically putting two fingers up to the authority."

Penelope Blake and Eric Goodman at the home they have built in Itteringham. (Image: Denise Bradley)

TENT TENSIONS

Last winter, they were found living in a tent directly outside their home during the winter months before being told again by the council to leave the site.

The pair say the situation is affecting their health.

Ms Blake said: "We had friends saying, you can't live in a tent. But where were we going to go? It was awful."

Mr Goodman added: "We feel we have been under surveillance for the last 10 years, everything has been examined.

"We both have health issues now which have not been helped by what we have had to endure. We are British so have a stiff upper lip, we have just had to go along with it."

Following this, they moved into a temporary rented home in North Walsham but they continue to make frequent returns to the property, which they say is to feed their muster of peacocks. 

Neighbours claim they are still frequently staying there overnight.

An aerial view of the Robin Farm site to the right and the Muster, which sits to the left of the plot (Image: Google)

APPEAL AFTER APPEAL

In their latest attempt to move back in, Mr Goodman and Ms Blake, backed by their team of lawyers and planning experts, believe that NNDC acted unlawfully when it took enforcement action against the couple.

Their complaint centres on the fact that the enforcement action blocked the couple's ability to fulfil their intention of turning the Muster into a holiday let.

They say NNDC should have instead issued a Section 97 modification order to the Planning Inspectorate to authorise the changes. 

Joff Goodman, son of Eric, has been helping with the case.

He said: "They are both in their later years. The way the council has pursued enforcement seems very unreasonable. It is not a very valuable site but it is their home and all they have."

Itteringham's village shop (Image: Newsquest)

In the couple's statement of case, their planning agent said: "The council’s actions have forced the appellants into a situation of financial hardship, denying them their right to use the property as permitted and stripping them of their only viable income source."

NNDC refute these claims.

The authority has refused the home on the grounds it is in an "unacceptable location" without good access to services and facilities.