Omaze’s Blakeney house winners to get keys as planning row ends

A couple who won a £6m mansion in a raffle have been told they will finally be given the keys – after a planning row was settled.

Omaze put Larkfields, in Blakeney, in a prize draw – but it later emerged a swimming pool, tennis court, garage and summer house did not have planning consent.

On Thursday, North Norfolk District Council ended the long-running planning wrangle by approving the entertainment company’s retrospective application for the work.

Omaze was “delighted” and said it was arranging the transfer of the luxury house to the winners “as soon as possible”.

Vicky Curtis-Cresswell said she had felt “pure joy” after winning Larkfields in the Omaze and Comic Relief raffle, held earlier this year.

Originally from south Wales, Ms Curtis-Cresswell had been searching for a rental property for her family while living at her in-laws’ home.

The former Miss Wales finalist said she planned to sell the property and buy a house in Wales.

The prize draw raised more than £4m for Comic Relief.

At the council meeting, Rosemary Thew, chair of the parish council, said the application should be rejected to “send a clear message that planning processes must be adhered to”.

But – by 10 votes to two – committee members decided there was no lawful reason to refuse it.

Thew said the application failed to adhere to planning policies that stated developments must preserve and enhance the conservation area, be built in scale and minimise light pollution.

She added: “It breaches the original conditions of the authority.

“In particular, that no enlargement or alteration to the building shall be undertaken and no building structure erected.

She said the size of Larkfields had “increased considerably”.

“I hope the planning committee will share the parish council’s concern in rejecting this application and ensuring that others do not follow these unfortunate examples,” added Thew.

Planning officers said the swimming pool and summer house could have been built under permitted development rights, but the tennis court and garage would require planning permission.

The committee heard how, while all four features were built without consent, they did meet local planning policies.

Angie Fitch-Tillett, one of the committee members, said: “I understand the concerns, but it does not intrude on the landscape.

“I think we are all very nervous about this one, but we are here to make a decision.

“We have the officer’s advice and they appear to have covered every angle, but I will propose that this is accepted.”

Development committee chair Paul Heinrich said: “There are no policy reasons why this should be rejected.

He added: “The fact it’s retrospective is irrelevant.”

Omaze said it would now “continue to liaise with the winner, who has already received their £250,000 cash prize, to finalise conveyancing and arrange the transfer of the property as soon as possible”.

It added: “Omaze has worked closely with North Norfolk District Council throughout this process to reach this positive conclusion.”