Business tycoon ordered to demolish five-bed mansion built during Covid pandemic

29 July 2023 , 08:10

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The building was completed in 2021, with building having begun during the pandemic. (Image: Steve Welsh)

A businessman has been ordered to demolish his five-bed mansion after he built it without planning permission during the pandemic.

Scotsman Gareth Wilson began building the beautiful sandstone house on his Tennox Farm estate in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire after Covid-19 had locked the country down. It was completed in 2021 and featured a Spanish slate roof, a spiral staircase, a stacked balcony, and a lush lawn with a winding path. The property would have provided the perfect country escape in Tennox Farm - where Mr Wilson has several other business ventures including holiday rental properties.

However, Mr Wilson failed to submit formal planning permission before work got underway and is now suffering the consequences of that decision. Although North Ayrshire Council ordered him to complete paperwork for the house in March 2022, they refused Mr Wilson retrospective planning permission months later.

As a result, Mr Wilson has been ordered to bulldoze the plush property, the Daily Record reports. The council ruled the building had a “negative impact” on the area and was not in keeping with its “established character”. Fears were also raised by the Coal Authority about the risk of the building collapsing due to past shallow mining.

Planners ordered the building to be demolished and returned to its former state. Mr Wilson appealed to the Scottish government but was rejected and the decision was upheld. He claimed the council enforcement was invalid due to a lack of specification and said it was “excessive”. He had also insisted the decision was against his human rights.

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In a written ruling, government reporter Fortune Gumbo said: “The appellant has other dwellings within the farm. In the alternative, should alternative accommodation be sought outside the farm, the appellant, by his admission, is of considerable means and as such this would not be an insurmountable obstacle.

“The enforcement action proposed does not infringe on the appellant’s (and family) human rights.” Mr Wilson was approached for comment by the Daily Record and while his lawyers, Brodies, said they did not comment on client matters.

David Meikle