A TYCOON has told how she won a planning battle after building a cafe, car park and road at her £20million without permission.
Emma Harrison wept when she heard that she had beaten planners who were demanding she rip down the new developments in a “blatant disregard” for their rules.
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Emma, 59, owns Grade II-listed Thornbridge Hall in the Derbyshire Peak District.
She fought against the Peak Park Authority after being slapped with an enforcement notice to remove the cafe, car park and a mile-long road,
With the help of her husband Jim, 63, her family, staff and many members of public she took them on and won.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online after her victory Emma said: “We appealed the council decision and won.
“My biggest regret is that is cost an eye-watering £200,000 in fees for planning and legal experts. It’s a disgusting waste of money in that it could have been used for my philanthropy and doing positive things for the estate.
“But we had incredible and overwhelming support from people, and it is a house for everyone, forever. The community agreed with us – this place is for the hoi polloi not the posh people.”
‘CRAZY ADVENTURE’
Emma first visited stunning Thornbridge Hall set in a 100-acre site in Ashford in the Water, near Bakewell, as a troubled fifteen-year-old school skiver with her social worker. It transformed her life and she dreamed of one day living there.
In 2002 she was in a privileged position to be able to buy the country mansion and went on a “crazy adventure” to restore the then dilapidated building and grounds to their former glory.”
Emma and Jim spent £20 million on restoration and the estate is now open daily to the public all year round.
The planning inspector who had upheld the appeal, had stated: “My decision will be disappointing for some local residents.”
Jim admitted there had been one or two un-named objectors – “local people who had been a bit unpleasant.”
But he re-iterated Emma’s views, saying: “We’ve had fantastic public support and people like the fact we are not riding roughshod over planning legislation.
“We have a very, very long list of people taking our side and supporting us. And we are delighted to see the successful end to an unnecessary process.
“We rescued the Hall, it is open to the public and we are not the type of people to build extensions to improve it and nit to fight back when told to s*d off by the planners.”
Emma said any criticism of her works to enhance the estate “makes me sad,” adding: “A couple of people have objected and signs asking local to join and support us had been taken down and hurled across our wall.”
Mum-of-five Emma, who has recently recruited her niece Olivia Cridland as estate Managing Director, told how her bitter fight to keep her “unauthorised structures” unfolded and she was left “shaking in my boots” at the prospect of taking it to appeal.
She claimed the unauthorised works went ahead without permission because the Peak District National Park Authority had “barricaded” its offices during the pandemic and with a new team leadership there was “no point of contact.”
The Peak Park refused to give retrospective planning permission and ordered her to rip down the new structures. She appealed, a planning inquiry was held last year, and this week she hard she had won while away on a sunshine working break with her niece in Spain.
PLANNING GRANTED
Emma, who had made a fortune as boss of employment firm A4e in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, lives at the house with her hubby, who is boss of Thornbridge Brewery.
She told The Sun Online: “I still have to pinch myself I live here, it is an utter privilege. Thornbridge is my legacy and it is my happy place, and we know it is a happy place for our many visitors.
“Planning permission has now been granted and I don’t have to change a thing.
“On my front door remains a plaque: ‘My house, and yours, my friend.’”
Planning inspector Ms D Boffin, has found in her favour stating that the public, social and economic benefits outweighed harm to the environment, listed buildings and “scenic beauty.”
She stated: “The increase in opportunities for the general public, the various community groups, schools and other organisations to experience the Hall and its grounds have, in my judgement, followed from the development.
She added: “While I understand that my decision will be disappointing for some local residents, the information before me does not lead me to conclude that these other matters, either individually or cumulatively, would be an over-riding issue warranting dismissal of the appeal.”
Messages of support have flooded in with people saying: “Bravo, well deserved indeed.
Stacey Robinson posted: “It should never have come to this, the Peak Park need to be more accommodating for diversification especially when it’s beneficial to the wider community I am so pleased you continued to fight despite the cost and hope to see more great things to come!”
Thornbridge Hall states on its website: “A hidden gem with over 10 acres to explore, house tours, a quirky cafe, and plants and gifts to buy” and adding: “We won the planning appeal.
“Thank you to all the friends of Thornbridge far and wide. We can now ensure that Thornbridge is for Everyone, Forever.”
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