It has become known as the 'Battle of the Barns'.
A five-year dispute sparked by a Hollywood screenwriter's complaints about a neighbour's holiday lets has come to an end after government officials weighed in on the quarrel.
The row centres on changes made to Roundabout Farm - a sprawling complex in the village of Thurning, between Reepham and Holt - some of which North Norfolk District Council says were made without the necessary planning permission.
Now, owners Richard and Victoria Kerrison, who have spent £90,000 fighting their cause, are seeking to sell their £1.85m home and business after being told to stop hosting guests at the largest of the three accommodations.
It follows a lengthy fight against council officials which culminated in a public inquiry held this year, with their cause gaining support from another neighbour with links to the movies - the widow of Oscar-winning actor John Hurt, Lady Anwen Hurt.
But the turmoil has left the Kerrisons frustrated and they have decided to move out of north Norfolk altogether to avoid having to deal with the council again.
BARN BARNEY
The couple bought Roundabout Farm in 1997 which at the time was in a dilapidated state.
Over the next decade, they converted the buildings, known as Courtyard Barn, Pear Tree Cottage and the Orangery, into homes that were later used as holiday accommodation.
The Kerrisons also installed a cabin-style building which doubled as an office, which they lived in for more than a decade.
Trouble stirred in 2019 when Helen Crawley, who lives in the neighbouring Bray's Cottage with her family, complained that the water supply from a borehole she shared with the Kerrisons had deteriorated.
Mrs Crawley, a screenwriter, has had work bought by Leonardo Di Caprio's production company, Appian Way.
She also wrote the screenplay for the award-winning 2008 film Skin, set in South Africa during the apartheid era.
Following the water issues, NNDC officers received a report of multiple planning breaches at the site and began an investigation before taking enforcement action against the Kerrisons.
Officials complained a number of buildings were being used without the correct planning permission.
The main issue centred on the use of Courtyard Barn, which sleeps up to 10 people and costs £805 a night, as a holiday let without the correct permission.
The Orangery also did not have permission be used as a separate bed and breakfast - although officials said it could be used as an extension of Pear Tree Cottage, which did have the correct status.
Meanwhile, the pair were told they could not live in their home, known as the 'Office,' as it did not have permission to be used as residential accommodation.
The Kerrisons appealed against all these rulings to the Planning Inspectorate - the government official that presides over planning disputes - which led to the showdown at the public inquiry this year.
HOLIDAY DISHARMONY
At the inquiry, it was revealed that NNDC received a number of complaints about noise and disturbance caused by people staying at Courtyard Barn, starting in 2019.
These complaints came from Mrs Crawley, who lives next door with her family at Bray's Cottage, and included loud music being played late at night and children screaming.
At the time, Courtyard Barn was advertised for family gatherings, weddings, hen and stag parties.
The Kerrisons told the Inspector that the complaints from Mrs Crawley started after the dispute relating to the water bore.
Mr Kerrison believes that North Norfolk District Council officials intensified their clampdown against the site after receiving a strongly-worded letter from Mrs Crawley's solicitor, outlining her concerns.
The authority had previously decided that Courtyard Barn had been used for both residential and holiday let purposes for the last 10 years and was therefore "immune" from enforcement action.
But this changed after Mrs Crawley raised her further objections.
Attempts were made to quell the issue by creating new house rules for guests and moving a hot tub further away from the boundary with Mrs Crawley's land.
However, these failed to resolve the matter.
The Kerrisons continue to dispute that their guests were causing a significant nuisance.
Mrs Kerrison, 62, said: "We live next door and would always have someone on-site in case it got too loud. If it ever got too loud we'd tell them to be quiet."
Mr Kerrison, 63, added: "We tried to find compromises but the council would not have it.
"To this day, we never received a written complaint from our neighbours. We just heard about it from the council.
"The Crawleys even rented out the barn for guests on their wedding day."
However, the Inspector accepted that the noise complaints were valid and ruled the holiday let was causing an "adverse effect" on neighbours."
VERDICT
The Planning Inspectorate delivered a mixed verdict on the Kerrisons' appeals.
They were told they could continue using the 'Office' as their home.
They won this thanks to evidence produced by Lady Anwen Hurt's testimony, which proved the building had been used as a home for more than 10 years, making it immune from enforcement.
The testimony included a photograph of Hollywood star John Hurt, when he bought a puppy from the Kerrisons in 2011.
The official also dismissed the claim that the Orangery could not be used as a separate bed and breakfast.
However, the Kerrisons were told that Courtyard Barn had breached planning rules and they were told to cease using it as a holiday let by November.
UP STICKS
Following the decision, the Kerrisons have decided to sell up and start over somewhere else.
The dispute has cost them £90,000 and a major part of their business has had to stop.
"As a warning to anyone wishing to fight a local council - you need deep pockets," said Mr Kerrison.
"With one swipe of a pen, [NNDC ]has destroyed our business.
"It is such a peaceful, tranquil place and we will miss it. But with a property like this, we are only custodians.
"We just want to move away and start again now."
Roundabout Farm is currently on the market for £1,850,000.
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