Planning boss upgraded £850k TV home ‘illegally’
A COUNCILLOR has admitted illegally renovating her 14th-century cottage – while chairing a planning committee.
Barby Dashwood-Morris, 70, even bragged about the building work at her £850,000 Grade-II listed home on a TV property show hosted by Sarah Beeny.
But her changes caused “substantial harm which cannot be rectified”, a court heard.
Councillor Dashwood-Morris, Tory ex-chairwoman of Wealden District Council, bought The Priest House in the “picture book” village of Hellingly, East Sussex, in 1997 for an estimated £224,000.
She denied knowing the alterations needed listed building consent, but prosecutors at Brighton magistrates court argued she “must have become aware” when she took on her planning role.
The house appeared on Channel 4 show Double Your House For Half The Money in 2013 as an example of a “sympathetic” restoration.
Cllr Dashwood-Morris gushed about her TV appearance, saying: “They were so very enthusiastic about how the house looked. I was responsible for all the design ideas, so it was a huge compliment.”
She claimed she and her partner Alan Proudfoot, 54, “worked closely” with council conservation experts to make sure plans were approved. But she was forced to step down as council chair after a prospective buyer’s survey raised alarm bells with the planning department.
Prosecuting, Saira Kabir Sheikh QC said: “These works caused substantial harm which cannot be rectified. If she was not initially aware listed building consent was needed she must have become aware by chairing that committee.”
Cllr Dashwood-Morris said she “strongly believed” the works did not require special approval, but admitted six of 22 counts of alterations without consent. Her partner admitted four. She was bailed ahead of her next hearing later this month.