Work halts on Brexit and Ukip backer Arron Banks’ six luxury homes

Construction has been halted on luxury properties being developed by the self-titled ‘Bad Boy of Brexit’, Arron Banks. 

The millionaire UKIP and Brexit donor has hit a stumbling block on his project in the West Country amid complaints from residents and the local council. 

The six homes, expected to fetch an estimated £1million each, are marketed at City workers and were granted approval in 2015. 

But amended plans submitted by his Bristol-based property investment company Old Down Ltd are facing opposition from nearby residents and Bath and North East Somerset Council’s landscape environment team. 

Arron Banks’ entry into the Bath housing market seems to be on hold. Work has stopped just months into the project which will see six luxury homes sold to Londoners for more than £1million each

The properties, marketed to residents commuting to London from Bath, were expected to fetch more than £1million each once constructed.

The millionaire UKIP and Brexit donor has hit a stumbling block on his project in the West Country

The six homes, each with four bedrooms and garages, are set to be built on the site of a former nursery and have been marketed to Londoners as a ‘very good deal’ and ‘ideal for commuters’. 

Permission for plans submitted by A Banks was granted in 2015 but construction only began in March, days before it was due to expire.

Banks’ Bristol-based property investment company Old Down Ltd submitted amended plans which include changing the stone brickwork to Scandinavian redwood cladding.

The changes have angered neighbours and green councillor Lin Patterson, who described the development ‘intrusive’.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s landscape team also raised concerns about its impact on nearby trees.

Bricklayers left the site, on land beside Avon Rugby Football Club, last month after their firm Helm Construction went into administration.  

Green Councillor Lin Patterson wrote in her objection: ‘It has made unauthorised changes to the structures and positioning of the buildings.

‘It now is highly intrusive to nearby residents. It is unsafe due to flood risk. It is likely to be unstable due to ground springs. The exterior finish is incongruous. Please consider this in committee.’

The new application seeks to remove a condition which ‘ensures that trees to be retained are not adversely affected by the development proposals’.

Original plans submitted by Mr Banks were approved by the local council in 2015. Amended plans for all six properties have been submitted by his Bristol-based property investment company Old Down Ltd. However, they face opposition from nearby residents and Bath and North East Somerset Council’s landscape environment team

In its response, the B&NES Council landscape team also raised concerns about the amended plans.  

Old Down Ltd can expect to hear soon whether it will be allowed to continue with the development. The council’s target decision date of December 14 has already expired. 

Mr Banks was recently reported to the National Crime Agency on suspicion of making illegal donations in the Brexit battle.

He insists the £6million he ploughed into Leave.EU campaign was ‘generated from cash and businesses in the UK’.

Police are looking at the case after investigations by the Electoral Commission. Mr Banks insisted the saga was a ‘misunderstanding’ about a ‘holding company’ he owns called Rock Holdings based on the Isle of Man.

He said the money he loaned Leave.EU during the referendum came from the UK-based firm Rock Services, which Mr Banks said insures thousands of people in Britain.

Mr Banks has not been arrested and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, including claims the money came from Russia.  

Mr Banks has been contacted for comment.