Government to rule on village 'party house' row

The owner of a glamping business who was told by a council to stop holding unlawful events has appealed the decision through the government's Planning Inspectorate.

Darren Swayne, the owner of Hill House in Saxlingham Nethergate, Norfolk, has been accused in the past of holding "Ibiza-style parties".

Last year, a planning application to use the 17th Century property for large events, such as stag and hen parties, was rejected by South Norfolk Council, following a nine-month campaign by residents.

The appeal by the Planning Inspectorate, which can overturn decisions when it thinks councils have strayed from the law, will be heard in due course.

Villagers said they had to put up with excessive noise and drunken shouting from the site, as well as adults running through the quiet streets playing tag and games being organised in an abandoned church on the edge of the village.

Local residents claimed some events attracted crowds of up to 200 people, with some lasting several days.

One resident of the 700-strong village won a seat on the district council with a pledge to tackle the issue.

SNC officials argue the property does not have the proper planning permission to be holiday accommodation or a commercial event space.

They also argue that the use of the site is "detrimental to the residential amenities of adjacent and nearby occupiers by reason of noise and general disturbance".

Mr Swayne had been seeking a certificate of lawfulness - a planning device confirming that the use of a property is lawful.

They can be applied for once the land has had the same continuous use for 10 years.

Mr Swayne argued that Hill House had been open since October 2007, providing invoices, brochures and reviews as evidence.

A statement on behalf of Mr Swayne, a businessman and hedge fund manager, insisted noise and traffic had been monitored during events and there was no evidence the activities had a detrimental impact.

The statement, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said: "The site is well screened on all boundaries and benefits from good levels of separation to adjoining properties that would significantly mitigate against any noise arising from the development."

Mr Swayne added he had hired an acoustic expert, who concluded that "our small number of corporate events and holiday lets is so well managed it is without impact, with no detriment to the amenities, nor a nuisance to neighbours".

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