Roundhouse must go, ruling (From Western Telegraph)

Roundhouse must go, ruling

A second attempt by Roundhouse occupiers Tony Wrench and Jane Faith to save their unusual eco-friendly dwelling has been dismissed. This means that the house will have to be demolished within the next six months.

Mr Wrench appealed to the National Assembly's Planning Inspectorate to quash the enforcement notice served on the Roundhouse at Brithdir Mawr, near Newport, by the National Park in August.

The main issue, according to the appeal report, is 'the effect of the Roundhouse on the character and appearance of the countryside'. Although the Roundhouse cannot actually be seen from the surrounding countryside and is largely a biodegradable structure, the Planning Inspector Clive Nield still decided to dismiss the appeal.

The report acknowledges the fact that the Roundhouse has been Mr Wrench and Ms Faith's home for some years and goes on to state that: "Clearly any move would severely disrupt their lives and may lead to a complete change in their nature."

Despite this, the Inspector concluded that the couple's personal circumstances resulted from 'personal choices made ... rather than matters of necessity', and therefore was not a good enough reason for the house to remain.

The only way now for the Roundhouse to be saved would be through an appeal on a point of law.

Mr Wrench doesn't plan to pursue this. "We'd be chucking money at High Court lawyers and stuff," he said. "I don't want to do that really."

He added that he thought that the Inspector's report was quite fair but was disappointed that the rules still didn't take account of sustainability or low impact dwellings.

He and Ms Faith are now considering a move to Portugal where they hope they might find an affordable smallholding.