It's a picturesque coastal village famed for two landmarks. Now the least popular of the pair (clue, it's not the windmill) is being cut down to size after a lengthy planning dispute.

West End impresario Adam Spiegel, producer of hit shows such as The Mousetrap and Hairspray, has been sparring with Cley officials over his controversial property Arcady for more than 10 years. 

The curtain finally came down on the long-running drama in April, after Mr Spiegel agreed to demolish the top floor of the overbearing modernist home on leafy Holt Road. 

Locals likened Arcady at Cley, near Holt to a dystopian fortressLocals likened Arcady at Cley, near Holt, to a dystopian fortress (Image: Chris Bishop)

Arcady soon came under siege from planning officials, who said it was too bigArcady soon came under siege from planning officials, who said it was too big (Image: Chris Bishop)

West End impresario Adam Spiegel, whose home at Cley has been at the centre of a lengthy planning rowWest End impresario Adam Spiegel, whose home at Cley has been at the centre of a lengthy planning row (Image: Archive)

Builders have now moved in to reduce the size of the property, which is estimated to have cost £2.5m to build and had locals up in arms.

Its towering top storey is set to be replaced by a pitched roof more in keeping with the properties around it.

Arcady means 'rustic paradise', but locals in the village likened Arcady to a dystopian fortress.

Cley's other famous landmark - its much-loved windmill, which stands around a mile from ArcadyCley's other famous landmark - its much-loved windmill, which stands around a mile from Arcady (Image: Chris Bishop)

Builders have now moved in to downsize ArcadyBuilders have now moved in to downsize Arcady (Image: Chris Bishop)

Builders have now moved in to downsize ArcadyBuilders have now moved in to downsize Arcady (Image: Chris Bishop)

Mr Spiegel came under siege from North Norfolk District Council soon after work began in 2016, with officials claiming the property was larger than originally planned.

In 2019, the council served an enforcement notice to demolish all buildings on the site.

Mr Spiegel lodged a revised planning application, which was turned down.

Revised plans show the area which will be removed in greenRevised plans show the area which will be removed in green (Image: NNDC)

The new design for Arcady, with a pitched roofThe new design for Arcady, with a pitched roof (Image: NNDC)

An appeal for the retention of the property was dismissed by a government planning inspector and a deadline of October of this year was given to pull it down.

Mr Spiegel lodged a new application with NNDC in January, which proposed the demolition of the second floor of the three-storey property for it to then be rebuilt.

His agent Ian Scholfield said the redesign had been drawn up after a public consultation event in the village.

Locals said Arcady was out of keeping with its surroundings in CleyLocals said Arcady was out of keeping with its surroundings in Cley (Image: Chris Bishop)

But while the property will have a more sympathetic profile, it will also be higher than its predecessor at the apex of the roof.

Although there were 19 objections to the planning application, from villagers who thought it was still too overbearing, councillors agreed the plans.

Mr Spiegel has declined to comment throughout the saga, which began when he applied to demolish the bungalow which previously stood on the site and build a new house in 2012.