I’ve built four luxury AirBnB cabins with hot tubs in my garden but I’ve been ordered to knock them down – I’ll fight the council every step of the way in cour
Father Vows to Take on Council Over ‘Unfair’ Airbnb Demands
A father has vowed to fight a court battle against his local council after being ordered to tear down his four luxury Airbnb cabins in his garden in the picturesque Gower, South Wales. John Phillips, 39, claims he’s the target of a “hidden vendetta” as he’s been renting out the chalets for up to £185 a night since 2022, with his wife and four-year-old daughter living on the site.
The dispute centers around a retrospective planning application submitted by Phillips, which was rejected by Swansea Council in November last year. The council deemed the development a “serious harm” to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Gower.
Phillips, who insists he’s done nothing wrong, blasted the decision as “madness.” He’s refused to dismantle the property, citing a recent council approval for a nearby resident to build a 10-room Airbnb.
A Baffling Contrast
“I don’t know what they’ll do to someone who comes from the village and builds an Airbnb with 10 rooms! They have a different rule book for us, don’t they?” he said, adding, “I think it’s a clear case of favoritism and discrimination.”
A Fighting Chance
Phillips has hired a planning consultant to help him appeal the decision and is set to take on the council in court, determined to prove his case is not as straightforward as the authorities claim.
“We won’t be able to afford our living costs if this happens,” he warned. “It pays our bills; it’s our full-time job. We haven’t looked at the cost of demolishing it. We’re going to fight this every step of the way.”
The Dispute Deepens
The row remains ongoing, with the council asserting that the development harms the area’s natural beauty and the inspector, Richard Duggan, concluding that the decking and hot tubs are visible from the coast path.
A Resident’s Plea
John Phillips’ appeal is still pending, but the outcome may not come soon enough to save his family’s livelihood. “We’re from Swansea, and they don’t like someone from outside the Gower coming in,” he said, hinting at favoritism. “It seems like there’s a hidden vendetta against us. It’s all about who you know down here.”
The Verdict is Out
For now, the fate of the resort remains uncertain, leaving residents like John with a precarious future. Will this determined father find success in his battle against the council, or will his luxury cabins meet their demise?
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