Owner told to destroy luxury Airbnb cabins built without permission
Father Vows to Fight Planning Row Over Luxury Cabins with Hot Tubs
John Phillips, a 39-year-old father, is fighting back against Swansea council’s decision to order him to demolish four luxury cabins with hot tubs in his backyard. The cabins, which he built without the necessary planning permission, were a big hit with Airbnb guests, earning him up to £185 per night.
A Proposal Rejected
Phillips built the cabins in his garden in Gower, South Wales, in 2022, but Swansea council deemed them illegal after a planning inspector ruled that the decking and hot tubs were visible from the coast path, harming the view. Despite this, the council still granted permission for another house in the village to build an Airbnb, which Phillips finds “unfair”.
A ‘Clear Message’
Phillips is taking a stand, claiming that the council’s decision sets a bad example and sends a “clear message” to others who might consider building without permission. He is ready to fight the case in court, backed by a planning consultant and an appeal, saying: “We won’t be able to afford to pay our bills if this happens. We are going to fight this every step of the way.”
A Harsh Ruling
In a harsh ruling, the planning inspector, Richard Duggan, dismissed both Phillips’ appeal and his request to delay the demolition, giving him just 12 months to tear down the cabins. The council is urging others to follow the rules and get proper planning permission, saying:
Hopefully the outcome of this case will send out a clear message that anyone considering development in the city should make sure they do so with the proper planning permissions in place.
A ‘Madness’ Ruling
Phillips has expressed his frustration, saying: “It’s really unfair — it’s one rule for us and another for everyone else. We have just been awarded permission to build a ten-room Airbnb in our village.” He is unsure about the cost of demolishing the cabins, but says: “We haven’t looked at the price for demolishing it. We are going to fight this every step of the way.”
A ‘Clear View’
Duggan, the planning inspector, ruled that the view from the public footpath was harmed by the cabins, which he deemed “unauthorised development”. He said: “The view from the public footpath, albeit only for approximately 100m, is valuable as part of the experience of walking within the AONB [area of outstanding natural beauty] and the development seriously harms that view.”
The Bottom Line
Swansea council is sticking to its decision, saying: “We welcome the decision of the planning inspector in supporting the previous enforcement actions taken by the council in relation to this unauthorised development.” For Phillips, the fight is not over. He will continue to battle for the right to keep his luxury cabins, which he says bring in a vital income for his family.