Hill House owner wins appeal against South Norfolk Council

Darren Swayne, the entrepreneur behind Hill House, in Saxlingham Nethergate, has succeeded in overturning a ruling by South Norfolk Council to shut down his business. 

The venue has been at the centre of a years-long planning dispute, with villagers complaining of excessive noise and drunken shouting from the site, which also offers glamping retreats for large businesses.

The council issued an enforcement notice to put a stop to corporate events being hosted at Hill House, but government officials have quashed this and given Mr Swayne the green light to continue running his business without constraint. 

A delighted Darren Swayne after winning his appeal against an enforcement notice to stop commercial events at Hill House in Saxlingham Nethergate (Image: Denise Bradley) A VILLAGE DIVIDED

Hill House is a Grade II-listed property in Saxlingham Nethergate that accommodates up to 25 visitors, but many more can stay in bell tents in the grounds.

The venue - which costs £4,900 to hire for a weekend - is used for corporate retreats and has been used by companies including Google, Nike and Amazon, as well as hosting charity events. 

Mr Swayne purchased the house in 2003 and started hosting guests in 2007 - but the building has remained officially registered as a residential property. 

Hill House in Saxlingham Nethergate (Image: Denise Bradley) But the events prompted huge controversy, with locals saying they were suffering from excessive noise and drunken shouting.

They claimed they also endured adults running through the quiet village streets playing tag and games being organised in an abandoned church on the edge of the village.

'Stop the Hill House Noise' posters signs were planted throughout the village and one villager, John Cook, was elected to South Norfolk Council after a campaign in which he pledged to put an end to the problems.

The controversy meant the property was the subject of various planning disputes as well as an enforcement notice from South Norfolk Council due to the use of the house as a holiday and events venue without permission. 

Mr Swayne appealed this decision and the row was escalated to the government's Planning Inspectorate, which held a hearing into the case last month.

Hill House also hosts glamping events in fields surrounding the hotel (Image: Elsewhere) James Blackwell, the inspector reviewing the decision, said that while there was "notable opposition" to the venue within the community, its use as a holiday and events destination had been ongoing continuously for more than ten years - meaning it is immune to enforcement action, and therefore lawful.

A spokesman for South Norfolk Council said: "Following the time and resources expended by the council to defend the decision of our planning committee, we are very disappointed by the outcome of the appeal."

The gardens at Hill House (Image: Denise Bradley) 'BANANA REPUBLIC OF SAXLINGHAM NETHERGATE'

Despite emerging victorious from the dispute, Mr Swayne does not believe justice has been served - having incurred £70,000 in legal and planning fees.

He said: "We've had to fight so hard to prove what we've all known from the beginning - that this house and everything we do here is lawful. Doing this has practically been a full-time job. 

"Democracy has been challenged here. This is the banana republic of Saxlingham Nethergate."

Mr Swayne has spent years battling South Norfolk Council (Image: Denise Bradley) Mr Swayne, who lives in Hertfordshire, expressed his frustration that villagers had portrayed the events hosted at the house as being "similar to Glastonbury festival". 

"We are more like a posh AirBnB," he said. 

Members of Saxlingham Tired of Noisy Events (STONE) - a group of locals fighting to put a stop to the business - were among those to speak at the hearing last month.

They have accused Hill House of hosting "Ibiza-style" events with noisy and drunken visitors, and destroying the quiet setting of the village. 

John Cook, who was elected to South Norfolk Council on a pledge to tackle the issue more than a year ago, was also in attendance. 

Mr Swayne said: "I've been portrayed as a fat cat and evil destroyer of lives - but they picked on the wrong guy. 

"I've been gaslit for so many years and people have tried to suffocate us. Their bubble of lies got bigger and bigger and it had to burst at some point."

One of the hotel rooms at Hill House (Image: Denise Bradley) HILL HOUSE PREVAILS

The Planning Inspectorate has imposed no conditions on Mr Swayne - meaning he is free to continue running his business without constraint. 

However, Mr Swayne stressed that noise control measures will remain in place at the venue, including the use of signage and sound monitoring. 

Measures are in place at Hill House to limit noise (Image: Denise Bradley) He said: "There will be no change to how we do things here but there is definitely a renewed enthusiasm. 

"I care deeply about this village and we will do everything to ensure that the sound issue remains non-existent."

Saxlingham Nethergate (Image: Denise Bradley) The decision has been met with disappointment from campaigners, including South Norfolk councillor John Cook. 

He said: "I am really very disappointed that the Planning Inspectorate has chosen to ignore the views and the upset of local people and allowed this appeal.

"Mr Swayne is fully aware of how much impact Hill House and its activities have had on the residents of Saxlingham Nethergate and I hope he stands by his promises to reduce the impact his events have on the village."