Seeking planning permission from Newark and Sherwood District Council for a raft of home additions, including a swimming pool, that were added illegally to a property in Caythorpe

A couple in a leafy affluent village have built themselves a swimming pool, summerhouse, outdoor gym and spa on green belt land without planning permission.

But it doesn’t stop there.

A total of six planning applications have been submitted for the property Fernhill, Hoveringham Road, Caythorpe, asking for not just those additions to be agreed retrospectively, but also a carport, security cameras, a patio and retaining wall, pagoda, three pergolas, sun pod, soft matting, a service shed, timber shed, raised platform area, balustrading and further retaining walls.

Homeowners Mr and Mrs Reddington are now asking that the illegal additions to their home are granted planning permission by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

All of the construction is within the domestic curtilage of the house, but in the green belt.

The district council’s planning enforcement team paid Ferndale a visit and told the homeowners that works undertaken at the property need to be formally approved.

In a planning statement in support of the six retrospective applications, one for each strand of the works carried out, consultants Urbana say there are sufficient allowances within national and local planning policies to allow the plush additions to stay.

Ferndale, 150 metres from the River Trent and close to the boundary of Sherwood Forest, has been subject to alterations in previous planning applications.

It has a long driveway from Hoveringham Road, beside a long expanse of lawn.

It has a heightened flood risk status.

Amongst its rich planning history over the years and not necessarily while under the ownership of the Reddingtons, was an approval for a ground-floor shower room and replacement kitchen for a disabled person, while demolition of the existing house and its replacement with an eco design was refused twice, as was first-floor side extension.

A glazed link between the garage and dwelling, internal conversion of garage to living space and balcony over, again retrospective, was refused but allowed on appeal.

A detached double garage has been refused in the past as has a tennis court with surrounding fence and hedge.

The planning statement by Urbana says regarding flooding: “A reconfigured front patio area has been installed, which includes permeable structures such as pergolas at entrance points and dining areas.

“Several areas of planting beds are also incorporated into the patio area, creating an attractive blend of hard and soft landscaping, and providing areas of permeable surfaces in the process.

“It should be noted that the works undertaken are not located within the functional floodplain.”

Should the applications be refused, the council has the powers to insist that the additions are pulled apart.