Flood risk rules halt Daniel’s dream home rebuild

7:01pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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A MAN is being forced to live in a caravan because planning rules are stopping him from rebuilding his home.

Daniel Baker, 27, bought a three-bed bungalow for £137,000, in High Street, Canvey, in October, 2006, which he planned to renovate into his dream home.

But he had to demolish the whole building because it turned out the walls and ceilings contained asbestos. The wooden frame was also riddled with woodworm.

Mr Baker has spent the past year busily designing plans for a four-bed bungalow to build in its place.

But his planning application was rejected by Castle Point Council last month, so he is having to live in a caravan on the site.

The main grounds for refusal were controversial planning rules preventing new homes being built on flood plains which are causing many applications on Canvey to be refused.

Mr Baker said: "This is ruining my life. The planning rules are so stupid.

"I've been saving up to buy this house, ever since I started a paper round when I was 12. Everything I've got is invested in this place.

"It's not like I want to build a completely new place, all I want is to replace like with like."

Neighbour James Marsh, 77, is leading a campaign backed by 11 other residents who live nearby to change the council's mind.

He said: "We're all stuck with an overgrown pile of rubble next door.

"There's no way any one of us will ever sell our homes, unless it's rebuilt.It's crazy because there's no flooding risk. We're writing to our councillors to see if common sense can prevail."

The Environment Agency is waiting for the results of a study, due out this summer, before it is expected to make changes to planning regulations affecting building on flood plains.

Planning applications to build on flood plains are being refused across the country, while councils wait to see what changes will be made.

Lea Fountain, council spokeswoman, said Mr Baker's application was turned down on several grounds, not just flooding concerns. These included potential loss of neighbours' privacy and traffic congestion from vehicles pulling out of the bungalow's drive into the High Street.