Businessman, 67, who ignored order to demolish bungalow for TEN years now selling it for £485k & council can’t stop him

NewsUK News A WEALTHY businessman ignored an official order to demolish a country bungalow for ten years – and is now selling it for nearly £500,000. Blundering council officials failed to check if owner Mark Hazell, 67, carried out orders to knock down the bungalow when planners gave him permission to build a large luxury house nearby. The bungalow that should have been demolished still stands on Mr Hazell’s land Credit: WALES NEWS SERVICE It’s now on the market for £485,000, for the 1.4 acre plot and bungalow Credit: WALES NEWS SERVICE Now the council officials are powerless to do anything about it – because it has been too long for the demolition order to be legally enforced. Planners ruled the countryside bungalow should be reduced to rubble in 2015 as a condition for Mr Hazell to build a six-bedroom house350 yards away on his land. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! And they insisted the three-bed bungalow must be demolished “no later than two months” after the new home was completed. But owner Mark Hazell never carried out the condition – and 11 years on Cefn Henllan Bungalow in the desirable village of Llanhennock, Monmouthshire, is still standing. The bungalow was used as the businessman’s primary residence Credit: WNS Mr Hazell insisted council tax on the property has continued to be paid throughout Credit: WNS Haulage company director Mr Hazell is now selling the property for £485,000 for the 1.4 acre plot and bungalow. Monmouthshire County Council tried to fine Mr Hazell in February of this year for a breach of planning – but officials were powerless to act due to the planning rules expiring. A planning condition attached to the September 2014 permission stated: “The existing dwelling shall be demolished no later than two months after the first occupation of the replacement dwelling and the site shall be cleared of all debris and reinstated.” Mr Hazell was told he was immune from enforcement because of the time passing. Most read in The Sun The owner had been told to demolish the cottage to make way for the 6-bed new build Credit: WNS The original features of the cottage remain, prompting a prospective buyers to offer asking price Credit: WNS Instead he applied for a certificate of lawful development for the “existing use of the building as a dwelling”. That application was approved as Mr Hazell, as he was able to prove the bungalow had been a main residence for 10 years. It is understood it was rented out by Mr Hazell. Planning officer Kate Young said an aerial photograph showed the bungalow in place and there was no conflicting evidence to say it had been lived in. Her report said: “The new dwelling Cefn Henllan House has been occupied for the past 10 years and that the original dwelling Cefn Henllan Bungalow has not been demolished, is still standing and has been occupied as a residential dwelling continually for at least 10 years. “There is no contrary evidence in this case. It is therefore concluded that Cefn Henllan Bungalow is considered as a single dwelling in its own right.” Mr Hazell said he did not want to comment on the matter but insisted “council tax on the property has been paid throughout.” He has since been offered the asking price for the plot and bungalow. Comment now