Omaze house winners to get keys as planning row ends

Omaze raffled off Larkfields, in Blakeney - but it emerged parts of the development were built without planning consent

A couple who won a £6m mansion in a raffle have been told they will finally be given the keys - after a planning row was settled.

Omaze put Larkfields, in Blakeney, in a prize draw - but it later emerged a swimming pool, tennis court, garage and summer house did not have planning consent.

On Thursday, North Norfolk District Council ended the long-running planning wrangle by approving the entertainment company's retrospective application for the work.

Omaze was "delighted" and said it was arranging the transfer of the luxury house to the winners "as soon as possible".

Prize draw winner Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, with her husband Dale, has said she plans to sell Larkfields

Vicky Curtis-Cresswell said she had felt "pure joy" after winning Larkfields in the Omaze and Comic Relief raffle, held earlier this year.

Originally from south Wales, Ms Curtis-Cresswell had been searching for a rental property for her family while living at her in-laws' home.

The former Miss Wales finalist said she planned to sell the property and buy a house in Wales.

The prize draw raised more than £4m for Comic Relief.

Blakeney Parish Council chairwoman Rosemary Thew told the meeting the application should be rejected because it breached planning policies

At the council meeting, Rosemary Thew, chairwoman of the parish council, said the application should be rejected to "send a clear message that planning processes must be adhered to".

But - by 10 votes to two - committee members decided there was no lawful reason to refuse it.

Thew said the application failed to adhere to planning policies that stated developments must preserve and enhance the conservation area, be built in scale and minimise light pollution.

She added: "It breaches the original conditions of the authority.

"In particular, that no enlargement or alteration to the building shall be undertaken and no building structure erected.

She said the size of Larkfields had "increased considerably".

"I hope the planning committee will share the parish council's concern in rejecting this application and ensuring that others do not follow these unfortunate examples," added Thew.

While planning permission was granted for the house in 2020, a swimming pool, tennis court, summerhouse and four-bay garage were built without consent

Planning officers said the swimming pool and summer house could have been built under permitted development rights, but the tennis court and garage would require planning permission.

The committee heard how, while all four features were built without consent, they did meet local planning policies.

Angie Fitch-Tillett, one of the committee members, said: "I understand the concerns, but it does not intrude on the landscape.

"I think we are all very nervous about this one, but we are here to make a decision.

"We have the officer's advice and they appear to have covered every angle, but I will propose that this is accepted."

Committee chairman Paul Heinrich said there was no policy reason to refuse permission

Development committee chairman Paul Heinrich said: "There are no policy reasons why this should be rejected.

He added: "The fact it's retrospective is irrelevant."

Omaze said it was "delighted" the application was approved, having worked "closely" with North Norfolk District Council

Omaze said it would now "continue to liaise with the winner, who has already received their £250,000 cash prize, to finalise conveyancing and arrange the transfer of the property as soon as possible".

It added: "Omaze has worked closely with North Norfolk District Council throughout this process to reach this positive conclusion."