Sarah Beeny Ordered to Demolish £3m 'Mini Downton Abbey' Somerset Home

Sarah Beeny faces a legal order to demolish a £3 million extension to her Somerset home, dubbed a 'mini Downton Abbey,' after building it without permission. Despite applying retrospectively and submitting a detailed 125-page document, her appeal against the council's refusal was rejected. The dispute has lasted six years, involving local residents and the Somerset Council, who plan a site visit with Beeny and her husband to determine next steps. The original 1970s farmhouse was to be demolished to make way for the seven-bedroom mansion, but Beeny extended the building without approval, which violated planning conditions. Local opposition also focuses on ecological concerns, including the presence of bats in the farmhouse and requests for a bat roost. The ongoing conflict has caused significant local tension, with enforcement officers and ecological experts involved in the upcoming council inspection.