A three-bedroom home in Great Abington, Cambridgeshire, which was originally permitted as a stallion semen collection centre and laboratory, has been completely dismantled after a council order. The property, built by Jeremy Zielinski, 75, and his wife Elaine, 80, was designed externally to match the approved plans for a two-storey commercial building with a staff flat, but the interior was converted into a luxurious residence with large windows overlooking the countryside.
South Cambridgeshire District Council issued an enforcement notice requiring demolition, and the couple's appeal to a planning inspector was rejected. The inspector concluded the building was constructed as a home from the outset. To reduce costs, the Zielinskis contracted a builder to take the house apart piece by piece, selling salvageable parts. The process began in early June, leaving only scaffolding and the building's skeleton.
Mr Zielinski expressed bitterness, stating the ruling cost them £1 million overnight. The financial loss forces them to sell their remaining land and stables and relocate to Thailand, as they can no longer afford to live in the UK. He described the decision as 'ludicrous', given the original permission for the building's structure.
Local opinion is divided. Some residents sympathise, while others note the couple ignored planning rules. One woman said, 'They were given permission, they ignored it, and it had to go.' Another added, 'If you let something like that go, where does it end?'
The couple bought the land with an outbuilding for £100,000 in 1986. In 2014, they secured planning permission for a countryside business including a laboratory, office, and staff flat. However, planning inspector Chris Preston noted the property's residential appearance, with a kitchen island, living room, and home office. Upstairs, there were two bedrooms and a lounge with a sofa and TV.
Construction began in 2017, and the Zielinskis sold their own home in 2019, moving into a static caravan. They believe a jealous neighbour reported them, leading to the enforcement notice in July 2023. During the appeal, they claimed the Covid-19 pandemic ruined their business plans, forcing them to live in the building. The inspector dismissed this, citing a lack of evidence the semen collection business ever operated significantly—only a £44 payment for a horse named Dublin was recorded.
The inspector also rejected human rights arguments, stating the breach of planning policy was clear and flagrant. Mr Zielinski, a former marketing manager for the Injured Jockeys Fund, said the death of their daughter Claire, 55, after a Covid vaccine, had sapped their will to fight. His wife, a GP receptionist, said they were unaware they were breaking the law and described the home as 'warm and comfortable'.
Dismantling the property saved about £2,000 from the estimated £30,000 demolition cost. The couple had hoped to move to Australia to be near a daughter and grandchildren, but that was also unaffordable. Councillor Dr Tumi Hawkins welcomed the inspector's decision, stating it demonstrates the importance of adhering to planning rules to protect the countryside.
