Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Sarah Beeny wins approval to keep farmhouse after eight-year planning dispute
Somerset Council has approved Sarah Beeny's plan to keep her farmhouse on her estate in Stoney Stoke, ending an eight-year planning dispute.
Beeny and her husband, Graham Swift, had been ordered to demolish the building after extending it without planning permission.
The dispute began after they agreed to replace the original 1970s farmhouse, but later sought permission to keep the extended building.
Their revised plan reduces five planned homes to four and keeps the farmhouse.
The change was accepted because permission had already been granted for five homes, which planners said could still be built as a fallback.
Local parish councillors and a neighbour opposed the decision, saying it weakened confidence in planning rules.
Beeny and Swift can now keep the farmhouse under the approved proposal.
Sarah Beeny has won approval to keep an extended farmhouse on her Somerset estate after an eight-year planning dispute.
Somerset Council approved a proposal to keep the farmhouse and build four new homes instead of the five previously approved.
Beeny and her husband, Graham Swift, had been ordered to demolish the farmhouse after extending it without planning permission.
The approval relied on an existing permission for five new dwellings as a fallback option.
Shepton Montague Parish Council objected, while neighbour Kevin Flint criticised the decision.
- Who
- Sarah Beeny and her husband, Graham Swift, won approval from Somerset Council.
- What
- They can keep the farmhouse and build four new homes instead of the five previously approved.
- When
- The approval was reported on 19 October 2026.
- Where
- Their estate in Stoney Stoke, Somerset.
- Why
- The proposal was considered acceptable because permission had already been granted for five new dwellings, which could be built instead.
Sarah Beeny and Graham Swift
Shepton Montague Parish Council and neighbour Kevin Flint
Planning proposal
Sarah Beeny and Graham Swift
They sought to keep the farmhouse and build four new homes instead of five.
Shepton Montague Parish Council and neighbour Kevin Flint
The parish council objected to the proposal and said it appeared to circumvent the original approval.
Planning enforcement
Sarah Beeny and Graham Swift
Their planning team relied on the existing permission for five new dwellings as a fallback.
Shepton Montague Parish Council and neighbour Kevin Flint
Flint said unauthorised buildings should be demolished and criticised the council’s decision.
Beeny bought the rural estate in Stoney Stoke for £3 million.
The couple received approval to demolish the original 1970s farmhouse.
The couple’s retrospective application for the extended farmhouse was refused.
The couple lost an appeal and were ordered to demolish the farmhouse.
Somerset Council approved a proposal allowing the couple to keep the farmhouse and build four new homes instead of five.
- Estate
- Stoney Stoke, Somerset
- Purchase price
- £3 million
- Purchase year
- 2018
- Original farmhouse
- 1970s building
- Earlier approval
- Five new dwellings
- Approved proposal
- Keep the farmhouse and build four new homes
What people are saying
I can confirm that I am satisfied for the application to be determined under delegated powers as the application is considered acceptable as there is now a fallback position in that prior approval has already been granted for five new dwellings on the farm which can be implemented.
She thinks she can move down here and ride roughshod over everybody but it's not going to happen.
I think the fair thing would be for anything unauthorised on the site to be demolished like Captain Tom's daughter.