Sarah Beeney in new neighbour row as furious locals accuse her of ‘blatantly ignoring’ rules

SARAH Beeny has scrapped plans to turn two barns into four new homes at her "mini Downton Abbey" estate after a furious row with locals.

The TV presenter was given the go-ahead to convert redundant agricultural buildings into five separate dwellings at her 220-acre former dairy farm in Somerset.

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But the Property Ladder star failed to carry out building work within the three-year deadline and demolish an old farmhouse to make way for a new seven-bedroom mansion.

Sarah and artist husband Graham Swift then submitted revised plans for the barn conversions, reducing the total number of new dwellings from five to four.

But she has now withdrawn the application after a year-long battle with neighbours angry that the old farmhouse has still not been bulldozed despite being a condition of permission for the new build mansion four YEARS ago.

Half a dozen locals objected to the proposed development, accusing her of "riding roughshod" over planning laws.

They also said she had "blatantly ignored" an enforcement notice ordering her to remove earth banks built without planning permission.

In a letter to planners, one neighbour wrote: "Why on earth should further properties be erected in beautiful rural countryside on a track off a narrow lane?"

Another objector said: "As far as I am concerned, this proposed development will only serve to line the pockets of the owners...rather than provide any real benefit to the local community."

A third added: "The current application appears to be an attempt to negate the original condition to demolish the old farmhouse and offers as a quid pro quo to reduce the residences from five to four.

"The suggested reduction in dwellings is thus a manipulation of the original consent to get round the condition to demolish the original farmhouse."

Beeny, 52, now wants to keep the old four-bedroom farmhouse, saying there is "no guarantee" that rare bats roosting inside will move out even if she puts a special bat loft in her new garage.

She is still facing possible enforcement action over unauthorised earth bunds after dumping tonnes of soil from an excavated lake.

The property expert could also be forced to tear down an "alpine winter wonderland" treehouse built without planning permission.

Another objector to the barn conversions, added: "This application should be rejected and the council enforce the original demolition order.

"I'm sure Mrs Beeny knew what she wanted to do all along and feels she can ride roughshod over our local authority. This should not be allowed to happen."

Beeny, currently battling breast cancer, snapped up the estate near Wincanton for £3million in 2018 and her New Life in the Country series has been charting its extensive renovation.

It is not known why she has now pulled plans for the barn conversion, revealed in an email from her planning agents to the local council. 

It read: "We have yet to receive any formal correspondence from yourself with regards to the outline planning application which is significantly overdue.

"However, notwithstanding the general support for the proposals on highways, ecological and utilities grounds, I write to formally withdraw the outline application."

Sarah's rep has been contacted for comment.

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