LOCALS have won a planning battle against their neighbour’s “grotesque” £1.2million home – meaning he now has to tear it down.
Michael Deller, 41, had been given permission to build a luxury two-storey villa, but his application for a basement was later denied by council chiefs.
It means he must rip down the lavish four-bedroom, three-bathroom home – located in the garden of another house in Hove, East Sussex.
The 41-year-old’s neighbours fumed the property was built without concern for the local area and is an “eyesore.” .
One local said: “This grotesque overdevelopment of land and is an eyesore for our family and lots of others to see every day for the rest of our lives.
Another added: “We have the displeasure of seeing this stark white building from our garden each day.
“It is overbearing and very much not in keeping with the surrounding trees and vegetation.”
The original application by the site’s then-owner Maria Higgins was for a three-bedroom house in September 2020.
Ms Higgins then sold the plot to Mr Deller the following June for £648,000.
The property developer then started building the house in 2021.
Mr Deller said he was warned that a new application – including the basement – would lead to a £40,000 community infrastructure levy (CIL).
A CIL is a levy for new builds which councils charge to fund key local infrastructure including schools and transport.
Work finished on the house in 2022 and Mr Deller filed his application for the basement just before completion.
But Brighton and Hove City Council denied him planning permission.
Mr Deller was then issued with an enforcement notice because the house was deemed to be in breach of the initial application.
This means he is required to demolish the £1.2million property, but Mr Deller has submitted another application.
This would be in keeping with what was originally approved and follow minimum building standards.
Whilst his planning battle continues, the house has been listed for sale.
The online listing boasts 2,686 sq ft of living space in a “striking contemporary home”.
It adds that the house has a spacious garden, modern open-plan layout, marble flooring and a built-in hot tub.
The basement was intended to provide a gym-cinema room, an additional guest bedroom and two storerooms, reads the advert.
“The lower-ground floor is currently subject of planning enforcement.
“A planning application which is part retrospective has been submitted to regularise the position”, the listing continues.
“This would allow the property to become a four-bedroom house once consent is granted.
“The basement will require configuring as will external light wells.”
Locals told the council that the home is far-removed from the original application.
One resident said: “The property that has been built on this plot is not even remotely like what was approved.”
Cllr Alison Thomson, chair of the planning committee at Brighton & Hove City Council, said the council would not comment on current applications.
She added: “We will, of course, take on board any comments made either in support or opposition to an application when considering any decision.
“As a council, we wouldn’t encourage anyone to start work without the relevant planning permission,” she added.
The Sun has approached Rightmove, Foster and Co Estate Agents for comment.
