One person said the historic cottage has been turned into a ‘monstrosity’
General view of Bibury in the Cotswolds(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
The owner of a controversial home on ‘England’s prettiest street’ is causing fresh anger over ongoing development.
Metin Dener, the owner of Rosemary Cottage, is pushing ahead with plans for a “huge” outdoor fireplace and underground car park – despite fresh fury from neighbours and the local council.
The scale of work at the home in Bibury has been dubbed a ”flagrant disregard for the history and beauty of the area” and accusations it has turned a ‘tiny’ Grade 2 historic cottage into a ‘monstrosity.’
Years of construction work at the cottage on Awkward Hill has been at the centre of an ongoing row as locals say it is still blighting their lives.
Despite earlier hope it was soon ‘coming to an end,’ new plans have been submitted over materials to be used for an underground car park that confirmed the construction was well underway.
The owner of a controversial home on ‘England’s prettiest street’ are again in a planning row with locals(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
And fresh objections have now also been made over a second live ‘part retrospective’ application, for a outdoor fireplace and landscaping works that is currently under consideration by Cotswold District Council.
Objecting to the latest application, Bibury Parish Council said: “The fireplace is huge, not in keeping with its surroundings, especially as curtilage on a very important Grade 2 historic cottage.
“The whole area is recognised as an area of national importance and special character.
“From various angles the chimney can be seen and changes the historic view.”
The parish council said the outdoor fireplace has been built “in contrary position” to the local plan.
It added: “The parish council have serious concerns about the care and competency of the site advisors / architects allowing such construction to take place on this historically sensitive site without seeking planning permission.
“We again request the planning officer monitor the site more regularly, as a whole site rather than individual projects.”
Local residents living on the street also expressed outrage this week about the ongoing development.
One said: “Nobody’s very happy about it. There’s somebody actually living there now.
“It will be three years in July. It was a tiny Cotswolds cottage and now look. It’s become a monstrosity.
“Hopefully there’s not more building work to come but they don’t seem to be stopping. We have said everything there is to say.”
The owner of a controversial home on ‘England’s prettiest street’ are again in a planning row with locals(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
Multiple previous applications have been submitted over the years for the cottage that included stripping and replacing the Cotswold stone slate roof tiles as well as adding insulation to a utility room.
Applications were also submitted for an oak conservatory and stone summerhouse that were withdrawn in January.
Locals have previously stated that the works, which have been carried out since 2023, have caused constant noise and disruption.
Trucks that service the site churn up the verges and block their gates, said locals.
Residents of Arlington Row, Awkward Hill and Hawkers Hill say they are “horrified” by the damage that has been done.
In the latest application, the applicants hit back at claims it had ‘overdeveloped the site.’
Its representatives said: “All the previously approved and underway works have currently only resulted in a 1.2sqm increase to the footprint of the residential property and the replacement of an existing above ground garage with an underground garage.
“All other works have been repairs to existing retaining walls and landscape works related to the removal and repair of failing walls on site. It is certainly not the case that the site has been “overdeveloped”.
It added: “Over the course of the last two-to-three years there have been building works undertaken on the site and considerable works to the mains drainage causing road closures which have caused local inconvenience and disturbance.
“Due to the narrow access road and high level of tourists in the village the works on this site have had to progress at a slow pace as vehicle access has been relatively limited compared to most building sites and works on a steeply sloping site are complex.
“The contractors on this site have tried to inform residents of deliveries and material removals where possible, however communication has not always been possible to be maintained.
“The client and contractors understand this causes frustration however how construction is undertaken is not something that is under the control of the current planning system.”