A retired accountant faces the prospect of tearing down his upscale harbourside property after losing a long-running planning battle with two affluent neighbours on Sandbanks’ famed Millionaires’ Row.
Neil Kennedy, 67, has launched what may be his last attempt to save his £4million Sandbanks mansion, which has been branded “illegally built” amid complaints that parts of the home overlook the balcony of a well-known celebrity interior designer.
The dispute began after Mr Kennedy demolished his former chalet-style bungalow in 2023 and replaced it with a contemporary three-storey house on the exclusive Dorset peninsula.
His neighbour, Garth Weston, 57, managing director of Ryvita, objected after discovering that the builders had allegedly failed to follow the plans originally approved for the site.
Central to the bitter planning row is a larger-than-approved balcony, said to look out over the garden belonging to glamorous interior designer Celia Sawyer, widely known as “Mrs Bling.”
Ms Sawyer, who appeared on Channel 4’s Four Rooms, argued that the enlarged balcony compromised her privacy, saying she regularly sunbathes outside in a bikini.
Further complaints centred on additional side windows, including one said to face directly into Mr Weston’s bedroom, as well as a noisy air-conditioning unit installed on the flat roof.
Although Mr Kennedy later secured retrospective planning approval from the council, his unhappy neighbours escalated the dispute to the High Court, seeking to have the decision-making process declared unlawful.
Siding with the neighbours, the judge quashed the council’s decision which rendered Mr Kennedy’s home illegally built.
Now, more than two years later, Mr Kennedy has submitted a fresh planning application in a final desperate bid to avoid having to demolish his home.
Celia Sawyer’s property (white) and Neil Kennedy’s property (red)
The balcony (highlighted) in Mr Kennedy’s home he was forced to put in retrospective applications after Celia lodged a formal complaint over the breach of planning rules
Neil Kennedy (pictured) could be forced to demolish his £4million Sandbanks mansion after a High Court ruling said the building was illegal
Mrs Sawyer (pictured) starred in Channel 4’s Four Rooms, where the public try to sell their valuable and collectible items in exchange for a cash offer from one of the four dealers
In 2023, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council told Mr Kennedy he had to apply for retrospective planning permission for the property which has three bedrooms and an indoor swimming pool and gym.
Officials approved this in January 2024, much to the annoyance of Mr Weston and Mrs Sawyer, who accused the council of failing to stand up to their neighbour.
The matter went to the High Court, after Mr Weston claimed the local authority’s planning process had been unlawful.
Mr Weston argued that, significantly, the council planning officer had failed to visit the site and so could not get a clear understanding of the impact the changes had on Mr Weston and Ms Sawyer’s homes.
Judge Andrew Keyser KC ruled in Mr Weston’s favour, rendering the planning consent invalid.
He said: ‘The officer did not visit the properties – arguable this did not enable a correct understanding of the subject development and the impact on neighbouring properties.
‘The errors in the officer’s report went beyond typing errors and there was a material misunderstanding of the factual position which renders the decision unlawful.’
The judge quashed the council’s decision, rendering Mr Kennedy’s home illegal.
He also ordered the Liberal Democrat-run BCP Council to pay Mr Weston’s £14,754 court costs. The local authority has refused to disclose its costs.
Now, more than two years later, Mr Kennedy has submitted a fresh planning application in a desperate bid to be allowed to keep his three-storey home.
The application is to ‘erect a replacement dwelling’ – even though it is already there.
His planning consultant Martin Hanham appeared to lay the blame at the feet of the builders and architects who carried out the work, claiming Mr Kennedy was clueless that consent would be needed for any changes.
In a letter to the planning department Mr Hanham said: ‘I would like to point out that my client is not a builder or developer, but a retired accountant.
Neil Kennedy’s home (right) and Garth Weston’s home (left) pictured in 2009 before the building work had taken place
The three properties involved are situated in a quiet cul-de-sac on Sandbanks’ Millionaires Row. Pictured: Neil Kennedy’s house (centre left), Celia Sawyer’s house (centre right)
‘Having secured planning consent for the replacement dwelling, he put all the building works in the hands of a local construction company who appointed another firm of architects to deal with the building regulation application.
‘My client was aware that very minor changes were made during the construction phase but he was not aware as to whether any form of planning consent was required and if so whether such consents had been secured.
‘Given that all the changes made to the approved plans have now been inspected on site by your council and it has been confirmed, none of the changes made raise any planning issues, I trust that an approval will be forthcoming in the near future.’
The Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum has objected to the latest application stating the design does not comply with the policies on overlooking and impact on neighbours and noise.
They said: ‘The plant location or noise generation should be properly considered as it is right next to the east boundary and also reinstating the privacy screens from the first approval, the only current approval.
‘We suggest the Planning Officer makes a proper assessment of this application.’
It does not appear that any enforcement action has been taken against Mr Kennedy, despite the house not being approved in its current form four years after it was completed.
All of the parties involved declined to comment.
