Millionaire locked in bitter war to 'build bigger house than his neighbour' in Sandbanks wins latest bid to make his home one metre 'taller' despite residents' backlash

By JON BRADY, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 12:26, 6 May 2026 | Updated: 12:28, 6 May 2026 A businessman who failed in his bid to make his Sandbanks mansion the tallest house on his street has been accused of engineering a 'cynical' attempt to force his vision through via the back door by extending its ground floor a metre downwards. John Yeoman was granted planning permission in February to demolish the luxury home he shares with wife Deborah in the star-studded peninsula and replace it with a new one four storeys tall.  They applied to build a new house - boasting an entertainment room with bar, home cinema, gym, swimming pool, garage and boat store - after their plans for six and five-storey iterations were kiboshed by local planners. In what has been described as an 'egregious' move, the couple has now submitted a new application to add an extra metre to the dwelling's overall height by building it deeper into the ground, and to extend upper floors and a set of rear balconies. Their neighbours have labelled it a 'cynical' and 'egregious' attempt to give themselves a bigger and more impressive home than his neighbour, Jeremy Gardner, whose home next door is ever-so-slightly taller. Mr Gardner purchased the plot next door to theirs in 2015 for £2.8million and built an ultra-modern four-storey home that the Yeomans said 'ruined the skyline'. Those living in the plush millionaires' row, which overlooks Poole Harbour, believe the couple - whose children went to the £30,000 a year Clayesmore School - have been concocting plans for their revenge ever since. The Yeomans bought their detached home in Sandbanks in 2001 for £1.7million, replacing it with a new home set back from the street after a few years. Deborah and John Yeoman have successfully applied to add a metre of height to their new Sandbanks home - by carving out an additional metre of ground below Mr Yeoman's home (second from left, behind the large tree) has been dwarfed by that of his neighbour, Jeremy Gardner (immediately to the right) Mr Gardner (pictured) objected to the plans to extend the home, telling the local council: 'There really isn't any good reason why this extension is necessary' But they found their mighty home usurped by the Gardners' a decade later - prompting the alleged tit-for-tat war. Alongside the additional metre of verticality, their new plans include a first floor balcony extension, described by objectors as 'massive', as well as an extended dining room. A children's playroom, master study and a pair of ensuites across the second and third floors would also be enlarged under the plans. Emily Watt, planning consultant for the Yeomans, said the alterations were 'modest' and that the home would remain 'consistent' with the design approved in February. 'The finished floor level of the ground floor is proposed to be lowered by 1 metre, and accordingly the finished floor levels [and] ceiling heights of the remaining floors have been adjusted,' she wrote in a letter accompanying the application. 'The proposed alterations are not materially different to the approved save that windows are slightly elongated due to the amended floor levels.' But neighbours who objected to the plans claimed the extensions were a bid to outdo the Gardners by stealth, labelling it a 'manipulative, egregious and concerted effort to determine the biggest single residential dwelling possible.' Alex Day, who lives in a £7m house nearby, said the height and scale of the home Mr Yeoman is now proposing will make it overbearing on a quiet residential street where the majority of buildings are much smaller. He said: 'This building is too tall and would result in a harmful impact upon amenity for both local residents and future occupiers in terms of levels of sunlight, privacy, and artificial light intrusion. 'I am becoming concerned that this is a concerted effort to determine the biggest "single residential dwelling" possible.' Next door neighbour Mr Gardner has also objected 'in the strongest possible terms'. He said: 'If approved this would result in overlooking, loss of privacy, loss of enjoyment of our garden space and there really isn't any good reason why this extension is necessary. 'The proposed increases only serves to increase the bulk and massing of an already huge building that is out of character and at odds with all the other newer buildings [on the surrounding streets].' Spot the difference: The Yeomans' original proposals as approved next to the Gardners' home (left) and the new plans extended a metre further into the ground (right) His wife Iona Gardner said the fresh proposals were causing local residents a 'great deal of concern.' She said: 'The previous planning applications were rejected...because of the bulk and massing of the upper floors. 'The proposals are now trying to go back towards what was previously rejected.' Local resident Alison McKenna also said: 'This appears to be a cynical attempt to manipulate the plans after permission has been granted.' However, planners at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council have given the Yeomans' modified plans the green light - so long as the second and third floor balconies are fitted with privacy glass at the sides for the sake of their neighbours. Planning officer Wendy Lane said that the home cannot be occupied without them, nor without windows placed at least 1.7metres above floor height on the second and third floors - again, for the privacy of the Yeomans' fellow residents. 'The applicant’s attention is drawn to the need to comply with all conditions imposed on this permission,' she added. The current house is also on the market for £7.995million. Its price was reduced two weeks ago, five days before the planning was approved. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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