Phil and Lisa Nelmes, a couple from Twigworth, Tewkesbury, find themselves stalled in their dream of building a new home after Tewkesbury Borough Council issued a temporary stop notice on their construction project. The couple had secured planning permission in January 2023 to build a single dwelling at 1 Laburnum Cottage, on land that was once part of their garden, intending to move closer to Mr. Nelmes’ parents.
Initially, their application for a bungalow was refused, prompting them to submit revised plans for a house, which were subsequently approved. Construction began and reached the damp proof course stage last year, only for the council to halt work in September citing safety concerns.
The council argued that errors in the submitted plans failed to accurately depict the existing highway layout, which could result in unsafe access onto the busy A38 road. However, these inaccuracies had reportedly been highlighted by both objectors and the applicant’s own transport consultants prior to the approval, and Gloucestershire Highways had given a robust assessment with no objections to the proposals.
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Mrs. Nelmes expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting the significant financial investment already made. “A mistake has been made somewhere along the lines, but not by us,” she said. “We did everything required to obtain planning permission, yet we are the ones paying the price.”
Mrs. Nelmes added that council officers visited the site and confirmed the access was acceptable, yet the stop notice remained in place. “They came out, inspected the site, and said it was okay, but then they issued a 56-day temporary stop notice,” she explained. “They claim we don’t have planning permission, but they haven’t revoked it or enforced it against us.”
Mr. Nelmes reinforced this point, emphasizing that the council had approved the plans and that the highway authority was satisfied with the visibility and safety of the site access.
In response, a Tewkesbury Borough Council spokesperson acknowledged that while planning permission was granted, subsequent discovery of inaccuracies in the highway layout plans meant the proposal risked creating unsafe access onto the A38. “Following legal advice, the council concluded the permission could not be lawfully implemented due to inaccuracies in the applicant’s plans,” the spokesperson said. “After advice was ignored and works commenced, a temporary stop notice was served.”
With tens of thousands of pounds already spent, the Nelmes family remain uncertain about the future of their building plans, caught between council enforcement and their confirmed permission to proceed.