Sarah Beeny refuses to back down in eight-year war with neighbours and council over 'illegal' £3million 'mini-Downtown Abbey' - as she submits ANOTHER planning application

Published: 00:01, 15 May 2026 | Updated: 00:21, 15 May 2026 Sarah Beeny's furious neighbours want her farmhouse torn down like Captain Tom's daughter's spa as the TV star continues her eight-year battle to keep 'illegal' building. After being told to tear down the 'mini-Downtown Abbey' at her Somerset estate, the TV presenter has submitted a fresh planning application to preserve the building despite being refused permission by the local council, and failing on appeal. Sarah and husband Graham Swift have fought a bitter eight-year war with local residents and the council to completely overhaul their rural estate in Stoney Stoke, Somerset, which they bought for £3M in 2018. She had put in numerous planning applications to the point that one local compared her to Captain Tom Moore's daughter. Hannah Ingram-Moore built an illegal spa complex at her house in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, claiming it was partly being used by her late father's charity, but the council ordered her to tear it down. Neighbour Kevin Flint said: 'It's created a lot of bad feeling in the village. 'She was given permission to build the new house on condition she knocked down the old one which she extended and refurbished, it's just not on. 'She thinks she can move down here and ride roughshod over everybody but it's not going to happen. After being told to tear down the 'mini-Downtown Abbey' at her Somerset estate, the TV presenter has submitted a fresh planning application to preserve the building despite being refused permission by the local council, and failing on appeal (Pictured: Sarah Beeny, her husband Graham Swift and their four sons Rafferty, Billy and Charlie) Sarah and husband Graham Swift have fought a bitter eight-year war with local residents and the council to completely overhaul their rural estate in Stoney Stoke, Somerset, which they bought for £3M in 2018 Neighbour Kevin Flint (pictured) said: 'I think the fair thing would be for anything unauthorised on the site to be demolished like Captain Tom's daughter' 'I think the fair thing would be for anything unauthorised on the site to be demolished like Captain Tom's daughter.'  Six years after agreeing to knock down the original 1970s farmhouse - which featured on her Channel Four show, New Life in the Country - they, instead, extended the building without planning permission. When they sought approval retrospectively from Somerset Council, they were refused in September 2024, and lost a Planning Inspectorate appeal in February last year. In the last 15 months, there have been discussions with the council regarding its demolition and, in December, council officials said that they'd met with Sarah and Graham at their home, adding: 'As a result of this meeting, a clear list of actions and a timetable for implementing these actions has been agreed.' But now they've submitted a new application to Somerset Council. They were given permission in 2020 to build a new farmhouse, but with the condition attached that they demolish the old one. They want that condition removed 'to allow the retention of the original farmhouse' and admit in the planning statement that it 'has not been demolished but remains vacant'. They also won approval to build five new dwellings converted from agricultural buildings - this was renewed until March 2029 due to the ongoing planning issues. Sarah's planners Avalon Planning & Heritage are arguing in the new application that if they only convert four - not five - barns, keep the original farmhouse and the new one, that totals six dwellings. The planning permission currently in place is for the same amount of dwellings - but five conversions and the new farmhouse. In return for approving the scheme, Avalon Planning & Heritage have drafted a new Section 106 agreement, which they say would give the council more control over future planning applications and 'restrict the amount of development at Stokeford Farm to that which either already exists or benefits from consent'. They argue the new plan fits in with the council housing supply strategy - preserving a building is better than knocking it down. Hannah Ingram-Moore built an illegal spa complex at her house in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, claiming it was partly being used by her late father's charity, but the council ordered her to tear it down (Pictured: The demolition process taking place in February 2024) Six years after agreeing to knock down the original 1970s farmhouse - which featured on Sarah's Channel Four show, New Life in the Country - they, instead, extended the building without planning permission Sarah had put in numerous planning applications to the point that one local compared her to Captain Tom Moore's daughter (Pictured: Captain Tom Moore and his  daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore in 2020) 'As such the benefits of retaining an existing dwelling in the wider context of both a local and national housing deficit should prevail in the planning balance here,' state documents. They also argue on climate change grounds that to demolish the structure would 'offer a significant whole life carbon savings of up to 36 per cent' when compared to the alternative of demolishing the existing building.' Planners further add that a bat roost was identified in the original farmhouse, but the couple's appeal for it to be retained on ecological grounds was dismissed. They want this reversed with their planning statement adding: 'The current planning obligations requiring the wholesale demolition of the farmhouse would result in the complete destruction of the Serotine bat roost which is significantly more impactful than the appeal proposals.' In conclusion, Sarah and Graham have urged the council to give the green light saying: 'We welcome the Council's consideration of the application and look forward to working together to reach a positive outcome.' Daily Mail has approached Sarah Beeny's representatives for comment.  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. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.