“A family has today won a three-year battle to save their real-life ‘hobbit house’ from the bulldozers after it was built without planning permission for £12,000.
Charlie Hague and Megan Williams, both 27, used natural materials to create their unique home in a secret location in the countryside in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.
But the couple did not have planning permission to build it on land next to their family home and were ordered to demolish it after trying to apply retrospectively.
But their three-year battle to save their £12,000 eco-home from demolition – supported by 100,000 from around the world – has today ended in victory after they won a final planning inspector appeal.
Miss Williams said: ‘We are delighted. We are very happy and very excited we can carry on doing what we want to achieve living on the land.”
More at the source: Daily Mail (numerous excellent photos)
Original story: Eco ‘Hobbit Home’ in Pembrokeshire Faces Demolition
Eco Hobbit Home Photos and Drawings
This story is one year old but well worth publishing. Thanks to everyone who supported the campaign to help save their beautiful home.
Good news – they should be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. It is very artistic and beautiful and it is hard to plan the creativity that gives ‘hobbit house’ the uniqueness. Only the general concept could have possibly been approved.
That’s right. Trouble is, as you probably know codes require all the detailed plans in advance. The whole code system is seriously screwed up. This young couple were extremely fortunate. The only reason their house was saved was because of the huge public outcry that forced the hand of the officials.
Thanks for posting this story and for emphasizing that people have a right to shelter and should be able to build their own homes the way they want to.
This story highlights three main points that we’ve been emphasizing on our blog for years:
1. Simple owner-built houses made with natural local materials can be built at a fraction of the cost of factory made materials. Building to code can raise the cost 10 times as much.
2. The building codes need major changes so they reflect the will of the people. People have a right to shelter. People should be able to build sustainable houses like these if they can’t afford or don’t want to build with wasteful factory made materials.
3. Natural homes can be very beautiful as well as simple to build and energy efficient.