Businessman secretly living inside a 'granny flat' hidden inside a horse stable on his £2.25million Cotswolds estate for nearly TEN YEARS must tear it down

A wealthy businessman who secretly lived in a 'granny flat' hidden inside horse stables on his £2.25million Cotswolds estate has been ordered to rip it out by the council.Haulage boss James George, 54, has been told to strip out the cosy one-bed hideaway concealed for more than a decade in a horseshoe-shaped stable block on land near affluent Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire.The under-the-radar accommodation, near Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm and the exclusive Soho Farmhouse, did not have planning consent to be used for residential purposes.Mr George found himself in the crosshairs of planners at West Oxfordshire District Council – the department which has famously been at loggerheads with Mr Clarkson over his farming ventures.He fought against the council's action, claiming he was 'immune' from enforcement because the accommodation was completed more than a decade ago.Under planning law, an unauthorised home may be spared enforcement if it has been used continuously as a residence for ten years before council action. From the outside, the building looks like an ordinary block of horse stables The horseshoe-shaped stable block on land near affluent Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire Although the building was originally designed to house up to eight horses, the living accommodation now takes up the largest part of the structure Mr George (pictured) found himself in the crosshairs of planners at West Oxfordshire District Council because he did not have permission to use the stable for residential purposesBut the council ruled that the so-called granny flat was 'unlawful' as it had not been used continuously for a decade to benefit from the immunity clause in the planning law.The council alleged the home was deliberately concealed from the authorities because it was not registered for council tax, had no separate postal address and could not readily be seen from the road.Now the businessman, who says he moved into the secret flat after splitting from his long-term partner, has hit out at the bureaucrats who have ordered him to remove it.He told the Daily Mail: 'Absolutely I do feel there's been an injustice.'But the bean counters have said it's a binary rule and "you have crossed the line".'It's been adjudicated on and the law's the law, so as bitter as I am, I don't think there's anything to be gained from [talking about] it.'From the outside, the building at his sprawling 15-acre Chalford Paddocks estate, which includes a traditional stone-walled four-bedroom house, looks like an ordinary block of horse stables.But behind the traditional exterior, Mr George found himself in the crosshairs of planners at West Oxfordshire District CouncilAnd although the building was originally designed to house up to eight horses, the living accommodation now takes up the largest part of the structure.Officials said there was little evidence that the stables and tack rooms had been used for 'equine activities', adding in a report: 'The dwelling appears to have been actively concealed and concealed by omission and... is therefore unlawful.'When approached by the Daily Mail, Mr George condemned the decision not to allow him to keep the 'granny flat' in the stables, claiming it was fuelled by 'jealousy and envy'.In a written statement, he said: 'The accommodation was a small one bed self-contained unit which I built as part of the timber stables back in 2014 to replace the dilapidated ones that were there before with an eye to it being a place for my mother to came and stay as she got older.'My mother, who's since died did stay in the property for a few months to self-isolate whilst she underwent chemotherapy because the treatment severely compromised her immune system and my sister who lived with her is a hospital cleaner.'Other than that the accommodation was used by two of my friends after they each got divorced and another friends dad while he got back on his feet after relocating back after working in South Africa.'For the past five years or so I've ended up living in it after amicably splitting with my partner. Living in the stables has been ideal.'It's allowed me to continue regular access and support to our seven-year-old son.'Ironically the council in seeking to remove my right to a family life also tried using the human rights act against me saying living in close proximity to animals was against my human rights!'Unfortunately, the council seem to be fuelled on jealousy and envy.'What they don't see is a guy who gets up at 3.15 each day to drive a truck and works in excess of 60 hours a week to and provide a decent environment for his son to grow up in.'The whole planning appeal was fought on whether the building became immune from enforcement after four or ten years, both my planning consultant and planning solicitor believe it's four.'However, the planning inspector ruled the ten year rule applied but also acknowledged the living accommodation had been completed for more than ten years on the date the council served its enforcement notice.'But the enforcement to remove the living still stands, insisting everything be ripped from the plumbing, to plasterboard and insulation out ensuring the space can't even be repurposed as a play space for my son, or the toilet retained for the stables.'Perversely I'm allowed to keep the heating oil tank but the boiler that runs off it has to go!'Seems the lesson here is: If you sit at home, don't work or come here illegally the government will feed provide and house you. Work hard, pay taxes, provide for your family the government makes you homeless and gives you nothing.'This seems to sum up why the country's in the state it finds itself in.' A view of the flat's kitchen, with colourful tiles on the walls, a dining table and cupboardsAppliances include a large fridge, oven, microwave, dishwasher and even a washing machine A closer look at the living room and part of Mr George's bedroom in the unusual homeThe unusual living arrangement might have gone unnoticed had Mr George not approached the council himself in November 2023 in an attempt to have the flat officially recognised as a lawful dwelling.He applied for what is known as a Certificate of Lawfulness, arguing that the conversion had been in place long enough to escape planning enforcement.He produced receipts for building materials and sworn testimony from his builder, claiming work to create the living quarters had begun in March 2014.But rather than give the development its blessing, West Oxfordshire District Council rejected his application.Planning inspector David Jones ruled that the building had been 'constructed unlawfully' and that Mr George had failed to prove it had been continuously occupied as a home for the ten years needed to escape enforcement action.He rejected the council's allegation of deliberate concealment and said there was no evidence to suggest a 'deliberate, elaborate and sustained plan to deceive'.Mr George was given a six-month deadline to cease the use of the stables as accommodation, remove all fixtures and fittings and revert it to its intended use.Last night, a spokeswoman for West Oxfordshire District Council said: 'Anyone undertaking building work or carrying out a material change of use of land or buildings should check whether planning permission is needed and obtain it before starting. The under-the-radar accommodation (pictured) is close to Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm and the exclusive Soho Farmhouse'We take breaches of planning control seriously and act proportionately, taking enforcement action where necessary to protect communities and the local environment.'Mr George's country estate is currently listed for sale on Rightmove with an asking price of £2.25million.Estate agents Maxwell Douglas describe the property as 'occupying an enviable position on the outskirts of the highly sought-after Cotswold market town of Chipping Norton'.'Set within beautiful rolling countryside and enjoying far-reaching views, including across the adjoining Cotswold Hotel & Spa Golf Course, the property offers an outstanding combination of residential accommodation and comprehensive equestrian facilities.'Nestled towards the lower end of the grounds is a charming detached property, complemented by a double garage, generous parking and surrounding gardens.'Beyond the house lies a well-equipped stable yard comprising seven stables, a tack room, feed room, hay store, store room and workshop.'