Inside Strictly finalist Tasha Ghouri’s months-long row with council with FIVE planning battles over new home
STRICTLY finalist Tasha Ghouri has overcome five planning battles with her local council to secure changes to her new home.
The Love Islander and villa co-star boyfriend Andrew Le Page bought their first home in February for £470,000 and have proudly showed it off to their fans online.
Former estate agent Andrew set up a new Instagram account specifically to document the epic renovations and posted photos of potential ideas for rooms and copies of the plans.
He first spoke of planning issues back in August, telling fans: “Hello everyone!! We’ve been so quiet as it’s been a tough one! wow these past months has been tough with so many plans changing, rejections but now hopefully we have a plan.
“It wasn’t what we originally wanted as we have restrictions unfortunately but we’ve made it work!”
Now the full extent of those issues have been revealed.
In April, they applied to the council for permission to convert their annex into a games room and gym, but their architect was forced to withdraw the application a month later.
They also applied to transform the main house with a vision of adding a “single storey side extension and internal alterations”. This was granted, but the pair changed their minds.
Instead, they went back to the council with plans for a two-storey side extension, which would have created an open plan kitchen, living room and dining area and made their master bedroom en suite.
Again, they decided against it and withdrew the application despite no objections.
This happens most commonly after consultation with the planning officer and the plans are withdrawn before they’re rejected.
Playing with the plans again, they decided to demolish the annex and create a two-storey rear extension which would have added an extra bedroom and study.
In October, they once again withdrew the plans.
At the fifth time of trying they committed to a new plan and got approval too.
The final plan will see create a fourth bedroom added as well as an extended open plan kitchen/lounge.
Work is well underway.
On November 12, Andrew showed footage of the annex being pulled down by a digger with the caption: “Something is finally happening. The garage is going so that we can make room for the rear extension.”
Yesterday he showed off their Christmas decorations with the house all geared up for the festive season.