Mary Berry's son sparks fury in seaside community by ignoring planning rules and converting his beach hut into a two-storey 'chalet' which 'sticks out like a sore thumb'

  • Tom Hunnings' clifftop chalet on Portland Bill in Dorset has doubled in size
  • Hut extended without permission but councillors vowed to take back control
  • He is believed to have paid in the region of £27,500 for ten-year renewable lease

Mary Berry's son has sparked outrage among residents in a seaside town after doubling the size of his controversial beach hut without planning permission.

Tom Hunnings' beach hut, perched on a remote cliff on Portland Bill, in Dorset, has more than doubled in size and now boasts a mezzanine floor, timber shutters, a second floor and basement.

The Bake Off star's son became embroiled in a row over the renovations but councillors have now vowed to 'take back control' and refused retrospective planning permission after he flouted regulations.

Furious councillors said the hut now resembled a 'chalet' and 'stuck out like a sore thumb'. 

The renovations made by the Bake Off star's son has sparked fury among local councillors, who have now vowed to 'take back control' after he flouted regulations by adding a basement and painting the building

The renovations made by the Bake Off star's son has sparked fury among local councillors, who have now vowed to 'take back control' after he flouted regulations by adding a basement and painting the building

Mr Hunnings' has sparked anger in the community after 'doubling' the size of his beach hut, which is pictured beside a smaller hut along the picturesque coastline

Mr Hunnings' has sparked anger in the community after 'doubling' the size of his beach hut, which is pictured beside a smaller hut along the picturesque coastline

Tom Hunnings, left, with his mother Mary Berry, father Paul Hunnings and sister Annabel Bosher, after Mary became a Commander of the British Empire in 2012

Tom Hunnings, left, with his mother Mary Berry, father Paul Hunnings and sister Annabel Bosher, after Mary became a Commander of the British Empire in 2012

Mr Hunnings was granted approval by the council to extend a hut at Portland Bill last year.

But it was extended beyond the plans and councillors at a Weymouth and Portland Borough Council planning committee this week unanimously rejected Mr Hunnings' retrospective application. 

The hut was also painted blue and a basement was added but planning officers said the hut had since been repainted and the basement filled in.

Councillor Ray Nowak told the committee: 'The bigger huts come at a price in terms of both space and impact. They are being used as holiday homes with more and more overnight stays.'

Councillor Margaret Leicester added: 'It has a floor upstairs. Whoever has built this, thinks they can do what they like. Our own policy gives us grounds to refuse this.

'This is a protected area and this hut sticks out like a sore thumb.'

Councillor Sandy West said: 'This is not a beach hut, this is a chalet.'

The hut was also painted blue and a basement was added but planning officers said the hut had since been repainted and the basement filled in. It can be seen here towering over other huts on the beach

The hut was also painted blue and a basement was added but planning officers said the hut had since been repainted and the basement filled in. It can be seen here towering over other huts on the beach

A design statement submitted to council planners promised Hut 45 (pictured), on Crown Field, would only be made ¿a bit larger¿ and ¿visually pleasing¿ 

A design statement submitted to council planners promised Hut 45 (pictured), on Crown Field, would only be made ‘a bit larger’ and ‘visually pleasing’ 

The extensive redevelopment of the previously tatty, rotting wooden chalet had upset neighbours — especially one who was refused permission to extend their own, and more than 30 objections were made against the development. 

A handwritten design and access statement submitted to council planners promised Hut 45, on Crown Field, would only be made 'a bit larger' and 'visually pleasing.'

But a spokeswoman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council was forced to admit there were 'discrepancies' with what was originally approved last October. 

Hunnings, a tree surgeon, who lives in Sandford on Thames in Oxfordshire, is believed to have paid in the region of £27,500 for a ten-year renewable lease.

It is just yards from the South West Coast Path.

One owner said: 'It is outrageous that someone can come along and seemingly ride roughshod over their neighbours and planning rules in such a cavalier fashion with a complete disregard and lack of respect.'

Councillor Sue Cocking added: 'I don't care who this bloke is, but he has thumbed his nose at the council and all of us.

'It is a monstrosity and totally not in keeping with the other huts up there.'

Mr Hunnings, a tree surgeon, who lives in Sandford on Thames in Oxfordshire, is believed to have paid in the region of £27,500 for a ten-year renewable lease 

Mr Hunnings, a tree surgeon, who lives in Sandford on Thames in Oxfordshire, is believed to have paid in the region of £27,500 for a ten-year renewable lease 

The hut was extended beyond the plans and councillors at a Weymouth and Portland Borough Council planning committee this week unanimously rejected Mr Hunnings' retrospective application 

The hut was extended beyond the plans and councillors at a Weymouth and Portland Borough Council planning committee this week unanimously rejected Mr Hunnings' retrospective application 

Speaking in May, Hunnings seemed unfazed by the furore. He said: 'I don't really want to add anything. Let people think and say what they want.'

He has inherited his love of the South Coast from his mother, although her resort of choice is Salcombe, in Devon, where she spent childhood holidays and in 2015 sold her Victorian four- bedroom home for £800,000.

Mrs Berry, 82, has two surviving children, Annabel and Tom. Another son, William, was killed in a car accident in 1989 aged 19.

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