A West End theatre producer has been ordered to knock down his £800,000 seaside home because the council says it breaches planning rules.
Adam Spiegel, 51, and his wife Charlotte, 49, were handed a notice by North Norfolk District Council to demolish their house, in the village of Cley next the Sea in Norfolk, and fill in a swimming pool because they ‘breached planning rules.’
Spiegel, who produces London West End shows The Mousetrap and Motown The Musical, has been told he must demolish the property, called ‘Arcady’ on Holt Road, within nine months of September 3.
Adam Spiegel, 51, and his wife Charlotte, 49, were handed a notice by North Norfolk District Council to demolish their house, (pictured above) in the village of Cley next the Sea in Norfolk, and fill in a swimming pool because they ‘breached planning rules’
The striking building has sparked a wave of complaints.
It has been dubbed ‘the Travelodge hotel’ by miffed neighbours, while others have called the modern property an ‘eyesore’ not in keeping with their ancient village, which is mainly made up of flint cottages.
North Norfolk District Council served the enforcement notice on the couple to take all the buildings on the site down following a ‘breach of planning control.’
Cley next the Sea, one of the most stylish and sought-after villages on the picturesque North Norfolk coast (Cley next the Sea pictured)
The striking property called Arcady stands behind security gates in Holt Road (pictured above). North Norfolk District Council served the enforcement notice on the couple to take all the buildings on the site down following a ‘breach of planning control’
The notice from North Norfolk District Council said ‘The development that has been undertaken is materially different to that approved by planning permission,’ (the house pictured above is next to a church)
The notice called the dwelling ‘unlawful’ and said the building is of ‘increased scale, height and mass.’
It reads: ‘The development that has been undertaken is materially different to that approved by planning permission.’
The notice references how the house’s overall design do not reflect that which was approved.
‘Therefore, the creation of the swimming pool and associated structure have been carried out without the required express planning permission.’
Plans were first submitted to demolish a three-bedroom bungalow to make way for the development in 2012.
Spiegel and his wife bought the bold development in the picturesque village of Cley next the Sea. According to online house register Zoopla, Arcady, described as having three bedrooms, last changed hands in December 2016 for £725,000
The three bedroom house called Arcady is described as a contemporary and modern building with light panelling, varying rooflines and timber clad elevations (development plan showed above)
Designs for the new development, which were designed by Pike Partnership, were put forward and refused by the council in 2013 due to an ‘inappropriate design.’
However, an appeal was launched which read: ‘As stated the main issues that are considered necessary to address are the issue of design and the proposed dwellings’ impact on the character of the area.
‘Although it is has been stated that design is subjective, and on the basis that personal opinions vary considerably, this is true, however the principle of good design is also based on matters such as proportion, scale, mass etc.
‘The proposed dwelling has taken great care to ensure these basic principles have been taken into account and has resulted in a design that is both functional and pleasing to the eye.’
The planning permission was eventually granted by the council in February 2014.
Adam Spiegel (L) and wife Charlotte (R) attends an after party following the press night performance of ‘The Book of Mormon’ at the Natural History Museum on March 21, 2013 in London
Spiegel and his wife bought the bold development in the picturesque village of Cley next the Sea which sits nearby to a Grade I listed medieval church.
According to online house register Zoopla, Arcady, described as having three bedrooms, last changed hands in December 2016 for £725,000.
On the Market advertised the plans for the property which they described as an ‘innovative design with minimal impact on surroundings.’
They said the house would have a ground floor wing with two bedrooms, bathroom and sitting room.
On the first floor, the master suite would have a bedroom and south facing balcony, dressing room and bathroom with a further en suite bedroom.
A detached two bedroom annex with south facing balcony would also be incorporated into the design.
The couple have appealed the decision to demolish their property (pictured above). A Planning Inspectorate spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm an appeal against the enforcement notice has been submitted’
The three bedroom house is described as a contemporary and modern building with light panelling, varying rooflines and timber clad elevations.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I don’t like it, it’s too big it just looks out of character with the rest of the village.
‘If it was somewhere else then it would be fine but just not round here. We call it the Travelodge hotel because it is so big and at night it’s all lit up it seems like every window is lit up,’ the resident said.
Another said: ‘It’s a bit of an eyesore. It just looks out of place with the whole village. There’s quite a lot of lovely countryside round here and it takes away from that a little.’
The Spiegel’s house has been dubbed ‘the Travelodge hotel’ by miffed neighbours, while others have called the modern property an ‘eyesore’ (Beach at Cley next the Sea pictured)
Staff at the nearby Three Swallows pub had mixed feelings. One said ‘Something has fundamentally gone wrong at the planning department at the council. But it’s awkward because the people who live there come in here, as do the people dead against the house.’
The couple have appealed the decision to demolish their property.
A Planning Inspectorate spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm an appeal against the enforcement notice has been submitted. We will check that the necessary documentation has been submitted and then appoint an independent inspector to consider the appeal.’
According to the Adam Spiegel Productions website, his company, formed in 1995, took over producing the world’s longest running show, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap in March 2018. Adam Spiegel (pictured)
The spokesperson added that two appeals had been received against the demolition order, one from each occupant.
According to the Adam Spiegel Productions website, his company, formed in 1995, took over producing the world’s longest running show, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap in March 2018. The website goes on to say Mr Spiegel’s production company is currently producing and general managing Motown The Musical, written by Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown records.