Nestled in the far west of Cornwall, the picturesque village of Paul presents a quintessential rural idyll with its attractive stone cottages, winding lanes, and ancient church. Yet beneath this serene facade, a bitter neighbourhood dispute has erupted, pitting locals against a wealthy developer over a controversial barn conversion project valued at more than £1 million.
Allegations of Planning 'Apocalypse'
Residents have accused developer Alasdair Macaulay of triggering what they describe as a planning 'apocalypse' following his purchase of a property in 2021. The conflict centres on the conversion of a barn into two semi-detached homes, with locals alleging that Macaulay has 'totally ignored' regulations by constructing walls, landscaping gardens, and building a driveway without the necessary permissions.
These claims are firmly denied by the developer, who is now seeking full retrospective planning consent for the works. However, villagers argue that the development has unlawfully expanded to cover a large area of land, overshadowing neighbouring properties and disrupting the village's character.
Demands for Demolition and Council Action
Frustrated by the ongoing saga, which has lasted nearly five years, locals are urging Cornwall Council to take decisive enforcement action. They cite the example of Central Bedfordshire Council, which demolished the unauthorised Captain Tom Memorial Building, as a precedent for restoring the land to its original state.
One angry resident told the Daily Mail: 'So we're supposed to believe somebody's bought a semi-detached house with no legal drive for over £1 million? Those figures might add up in West London but not up here. You could find a dozen bigger and much nicer houses around here without the ongoing planning issues for less than that.'
Mystery Surrounds Property Sale and Occupancy
Adding to the controversy, the larger of the two homes—a five-bedroom property with a master suite, four bathrooms, 6m high ceilings, and a designer kitchen—appears to have sold for approximately £1.15 million. Despite a now-faded sold sign being erected around a year ago, no one has moved into the house, and no new owner is listed on the Land Registry.
Neighbours reported that builders packed up about a month ago, with no recent activity observed at the site. The estate agents' listing for the sold house boasted 'an impressive driveway with so much parking' and described an unpermitted 14-metre terrace with a large lawn as 'the perfect place to entertain or just enjoy the sun.'
Council's Enforcement Efforts and Appeals
Cornwall Council initially started enforcement action last year after rejecting a retrospective planning application. However, this was halted when the developer submitted another application, which was also rejected. In September, an appeal to save the unauthorised drives and gardens was thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate.
A Cornwall Council spokesperson stated: 'The council's planning enforcement team have noted the appeal decision.' The council confirmed it is investigating alleged breaches of planning control at the site and has concluded that a breach has occurred, with expectations that a retrospective application will be submitted.
Residents Voice Outrage and Concerns
Long-term village resident 'Julie' expressed the community's frustration: 'It's a complete bloody state up there. The saga has been going on for almost five years now, originally we were told it was going to be affordable houses. How do you go from that to million-pound semis? If you ask me they're a complete white elephant, nobody in their right mind would spend that on a semi-detached house.'
Other locals, including Morvah Stubbings and Richard Crowe, criticised the development as 'cynical' and 'ruining the entrance to an old and much-loved village.' Bernice Daly highlighted breaches of planning conditions, such as the failure to plant a promised copse to obscure the building, questioning why exceptions were made in this case.
Broader Implications for Neighbourhood Planning
A spokesperson for local residents told Cornwall Live that the situation undermines government encouragement of neighbourhood planning, where residents are supposed to have meaningful input into local development. They warned that the longer unauthorised development continues, the less likely it is that any works will be reversed, calling for swift action similar to that taken in the Captain Tom case.
In a letter from Macaulay's planning agent, residents' objections were described as 'unwelcomed and derogatory statements regarding the approach and motives of the appellant,' asserting that the conversion works were undertaken 'entirely in accordance with Planning Law and established consents at the site.'
As the standoff persists, the ultimate fate of the barn conversion remains uncertain, leaving the village of Paul grappling with a planning dispute that has shattered its peaceful rural charm.
