EXCLUSIVE Locals in quaint Devon seaside town furious over neighbours eyesore modern extension that looks like a shipping container
War has broken out in a tranquil town in Devon over a monstrous beachfront extension that looks like a shipping container.
War has broken out in a tranquil town in Devon over a monstrous beachfront extension that looks like a shipping container.
Neighbours have accused Ros Debenham of not giving a s*** about the historic town.
But Ms Debenham, who describes herself as a longtime resident of Budleigh Salterton, claims she spent over seven figures restoring a building that was in a state of disrepair.
Lynda Benson, 79, who lives a few doors down said her biggest issue with the extension is that its set a precedent for other people to build invasive extensions.
She told MailOnline: When it first went up we thought it looked like a container off a container ship.
Its disappointing that its on the beach front. It will never look the same again.
Its a conservation area but its not conserving anything.
The property called The Creamery was originally an ice cream parlour, backing onto a coastal path, which is part of the East Devon National Landscape.
War has broken out in Budleigh Salterton, Devon over a monstrous beachfront extension that looks like a shipping container (pictured)
Lynda Benson, 79, (pictured) who lives a few doors down said her biggest issue with the extension is that its set a precedent for other people to build invasive extensions
The property called The Creamery was originally an ice cream parlour, backing onto a coastal path, which is part of the East Devon National Landscape
Anne Boyle, 75, (pictured) doesnt understand how planning permission for the extension was approved
In 2022, Ms Debenham sought permission to renovate the property and build an extension.
At the time, planning officers recommended refusal but it was voted through in a committee meeting, much to the shock of all residents.
She renovated the property, preserving the front of the house, which backs onto the town.
But added the intense black extension to the back, creating a stark contrast between the old ice cream parlour and the other Victorian properties.
It was sold to Ros Debenham and she doesnt give a shit about Budeigh Salterton, Ms Benson added.
It was a brick built Victorian property fronting onto the sea and now its stealth bomber black.
If you walk past walkers gawk and say how did that happen. It doesnt fit in its not replaced something with the same profile - its higher.
It must affect the value of the houses close to it.
The front of the house, which backs onto the historic town was preserved by the owner (pictured)
In 2022, Ms Debenham sought permission to renovate the property and build the beach front extension
People didnt know about the extension, unfortunately, there are a lot of second homes and the neighbours either side werent in residence.
She represented herself in the council meeting and said the people of Budleigh Salterton wanted the property to be done up but nobody knew what was going on.
Shes got a big house in Portugal and applied to make part of the ground floor vehicle access which was turned down.
Shes now turned it into two flats shes going to rent.
However, Ms Debenham claimed she had to make sacrifices when obtaining planning permission, including agreeing not to build a spiral staircase.
She said: The building in question had been on the market for over a decade, largely due to its advanced state of disrepair and the fact that it consisted of two shops and two flats.
When I purchased it, I was fully aware of the substantial financial commitment it represented, well into the seven-figure range.
However, as a longtime resident of Budleigh and someone with fond memories of visiting the old ice cream shop with my four children, I was determined to restore this significant building rather than watch it continue to deteriorate.
Ms Debenham, who describes herself as a longtime resident of Budleigh Salterton, claims she spent over seven figures restoring a building that was in a state of disrepair
The intense black extension is a stark contrast compared to the old ice cream parlour and the other Victorian properties
The restoration work has involved re-establishing the ornate Italian brickwork, repointing the entire frontage, and revealing the original wrought ironwork above the shop.
The rear of the building now presents a clean and tidy aspect, as opposed to its previous state, which seemed to be awaiting demolition. I have received many compliments for these efforts.
And while Ms Debenham says she has received praise for her extension, several residents told MailOnline of their unhappiness at the property.
Anne Boyle, 75, said: I think its a monstrosity and I cant think how they managed to get permission for it because you cant even get a tree down here.
Nobody can understand it as we watched it going up we thought perhaps it wont be bad but its just as bad as we all thought.
I dont know why its black, it doesnt keep.
How they got permission. Nobody seemed to know much about it at the time.
As you walk down the coastal path its an iconic view and now we have that instead.
Obtaining planning permission within the East Devon National Landscape is considered extremely difficult, with residents having to ask before they alter their front gardens
Joan Goodridge, a Budleigh Salterton resident thinks the extension is a massive eyesore
Joan Goodridge, another Budleigh Salterton resident agreed.
She said: Its very out of place, its horrible it looks like a storage container.
Whats happening is the pigeons poo on it and it looks even worse on the black it looks awful.
I hate to say it but I think its all about money if youve got enough you can get anything done.
Ive lived in Budleigh for four years, it seems as if you can do whatever you want to do if the moneys there.
We should be protecting lovely areas like this. Its just such a shame.
How did they get it passed because around 18 months ago a cafe wanted to put a storage thing in and it didnt get past.
If you can pass something like that you can certainly pass one small unit, they thought that was an eyesore whats that then.
Ms Debenham claimed she had to make sacrifices when obtaining planning permission, including agreeing not to build a spiral staircase
While Ms Debenham says she has received praise for her extension, several residents told MailOnline of their unhappiness at the property
Obtaining planning permission within the East Devon National Landscape is considered extremely difficult, with residents having to ask before they alter their front gardens.
Councillor Peter Mansfield, who was only a resident at the time the extension said he would have opposed the building.
He told MailOnline: The reason why its black is because it had to be painted the same as the fisherman huts, which is a bit nuts.
I was surprised when I first saw it and Im still surprised when I see it.
Ive lived in the area since 1984 and I joined the council to put some input in - Im surprised it went through, had I been a councillor at the time I would have opposed it.
The town is quaint and people move here because its quaint. Budleigh is a wonderful town and it needs preserving.
Preserving and adding not just modernising for modernising sake.