Rag’n’Bone Man has won the first round in his battle to stop an estate of 34 houses being built behind his £1million rural home after developers the singer accused of ‘bullying’ withdrew their application.
The bearded and tattooed hitmaker had complained that the new homes would overlook his property and have a ‘detrimental impact’ on his life.
He claimed the homes could cause drainage issues and also predicted that traffic to the site from the access road would be an additional danger.
The New Year was due for councillors to look into granting planning permission for the Heathfield development, East Sussex.
Planning documents indicate that the application was withdrawn by the applicant on December 23, but it’s not known if they will present revised plans.
Rag’n’Bone Man has won the first round in his battle to stop an estate of 34 houses being built behind his £1million rural home after developers withdrew their application this month
Pictured: View of the development site taken from the home of the singer, which he shared his view with the council
The 36-year-old heavyweight singer had voiced his opposition to the plans in a letter to Wealden District Council, saying they ‘should be resisted at all costs’.
His letter written under his real name Rory Graham protested that the 4.1 acre site of the planned houses on a field bordered by woodland was ‘clearly an unsuitable location’.
The proposal site is located directly behind my house, he wrote. My garden will be visible from the new dwellings.
All 34 properties have a view to my home and/or gardens. No care has been taken to ensure that my future enjoyment and use of the amenity spaces is as enjoyable as possible.
“It is obvious that the application has no overriding advantages that can ever outweigh its impact. It is unsuitable for this location.
The infrastructure, which includes schools, dentists and utilities, is failing or overstretched in the region.
According to the singer, the close proximity of the location (pictured) would have a detrimental impact on his personal life. It is also located near an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“It is difficult to believe that the council could see this area as being a suitable location for the development. This application should be denied by the planning committee and council.
“If it is approved, it could have an adverse effect on my property or my quality of life.”
Rag’n’Bone Man shot to fame with his No.1 debut single Human in 2016 and has since amassed an estimated £5million fortune thanks to follow-up hits including Giant and his chart-topping album Life by Misadventure.
The singer-songwriter, who is originally from Uckfield, East Sussex, bought his modest home in nearby Heathfield four-years-ago for £835,000.
This property sits on approximately 2.8 acres of land and includes a spring, pony paddock, and is adjacent to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Roger Daltrey and Jayne Torvill, skating superstars, as well as Cate Blanchett are some of the famous nearby residents.
Pictured: Whitehall Homes is planning to build 34 houses – 12 affordable – at the Heathfield location in East Sussex, which is next to Rag’n’Bone Men’s current home.
Rag’n’Bone Man’s letter of objection to the new houses added: ‘Since purchasing the property in 2017, I have seen several species including red kite, dormouse, bats, owls, deer (in particular Albino deer).
The development represents major developments within the AONB. However, it doesn’t in any way preserve or enhance the AONB. This should be avoided at all costs.
“The access proposed will be adjacent to my driveway. This is already dangerous enough, with only two other properties. It is very difficult to turn left from my driveway during peak hours.
“The developer’s proposed traffic light system is not what it seems. What funding is it?
“Would the affordability of affordable housing be possible if the development was financially viable despite the high costs offsite?
Five months ago, the plans for the estate were submitted. This was just after the singer had abandoned his original plans to build a two-storey outbuilding that would house an indoor pool and bar.
Following criticism from the local parish council, he withdrew his application for planning permission.
Rag’n’Bone Man also complained in a Facebook rant that the firm behind the bid for the 34 houses had used ‘bully tactics’ to try to buy his four-bedroom property.
Whitehall Homes spokesman denied Graham’s claim, saying that Graham was politely reached by them after they requested a proposal.
“After careful consideration, no further contact was made with them. The alleged bullying tactics are not apparent to us.
The developers added in a design and access statement accompanying their planning application that they wanted to create a ‘high quality residential development’ and ‘a close community with a distinct sense of place and character’.
The statement insisted that the area had the ‘lowest designation of risk category for flooding’.