12-acre eco-development must be torn down
A man who constructed an eco retreat of buildings made by hand in Powys has been told to knock it all down due to lack of planning permission.
Eddie McIntosh, 52, built the 12-acre farm himself with wooden classrooms and cabins, and it was once dubbed an inspiration by Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs.
The father of two began developing 'Mellowcroft' woodland in Llandegley near Llandrindod Wells more than 12 years ago, as a way of living a sustainable lifestyle.
However, he now has to tear the whole thing down after he lost a court case with Powys County Council.
He had been given permission for the site to be used for agriculture, but now the authority has proved it was being used as a residence, as he was living there in a tree house.
Demolish
McIntosh has now been found guilty of 18 charges of breaking planning laws by failing to comply with planning enforcement notices served on him by PCC.
He must now demolish the buildings at the retreat, at Llandegley.
McIntosh had denied 18 charges at his trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court but was found guilty on all counts.
He had already appealed the notices to the independent planning inspector who in a January 2016 decision mostly upheld the notices.
Christopher Vosper QC fined McIntosh, of Mellowcroft, Llandegley, a total of £750.
Prosecutor Christian Jowett said the council’s costs were in the region of £35,000 but did not make an application for the authority to be awarded the costs.
McIntosh was also given a 12-month conditional discharge on three charges.
