Scots racing driver David Coulthard is on a collision course with planners over a development at his luxury Scottish home. Officials have warned that legal action could be taken, claiming building work does not match agreed plans.
Dispute Over Building Compliance
Mr Coulthard could be ordered to make changes to the former steadings that have been converted into a three-bedroom house. However, the motor racing legend's architect has branded Dumfries and Galloway Council's stance as 'ridiculous'.
Coulthard, 55, who lives mostly in Monaco, owns an 85-acre estate near Twynholm in Kirkcudbrightshire, where he grew up. Barwhinnock House is a regency-style seven-bedroom mansion, built in 1830 and A-listed. In 2022, planning permission was granted to convert the adjacent steadings.
The council's planning enforcement team say alterations were not carried out 'in compliance with the consent approved' and that 'the design and materials differed'. Mr Coulthard's agent submitted a fresh, retrospective planning application last year, but officials said the information provided 'was inaccurate and did not fully reflect the development undertaken on site'. A further application was lodged last month but still has not satisfied officials.
Architect's Frustration
Mr Coulthard's agent, Lindsey Evans of Evans Rural Architecture, said she could not see any 'inaccuracies' in the drawings. In an email to the council, Ms Evans wrote: 'This seems ridiculous. Of course, the client wishes to submit accurate drawings and does not wish to amend the as-built structure. I cannot find the discrepancy and the simplest solution would be for you to point this out so it can be remedied immediately. Why is this not possible?'
But council planner Iona Brooke told the architect: 'The onus is on the applicant/agent to submit accurate drawings. It is not within the remit of the planning authority to highlight discrepancies. If your client does not wish to submit accurate drawings we will move to refusal on this basis. As it stands the works do not benefit from consent as they are not in accordance with the drawings and are, therefore, potentially liable for enforcement action. Your client should be made aware of this possibility.'
The application remains at the 'assessment stage'. Mr Coulthard was previously given permission to convert a former mill at Barwhinnock to a storage building for his private car collection. In recent months, he has also been given the green light to construct a floodlit padel court and two sets of security gates.
