Hobbit House: Couple Told To Destroy Eco-Friendly Home
The Hobbit house of North Penbrokeshire, Wales must be destroyed. Charles Hague and Megan Williams were ordered to demolish their eco-friendly home. The couple has two months to remove the home and all associated materials from their land.
As reported by Wales Online, the Pembrokeshire Council previously decided that the home caused “harm to the character and appearance of the countryside.”
Their decision was upheld by Planning Inspector Iwan Lloyd. Officials contend that the home was built without prior permission from the planning commission.
As explained on Facebook, the couple decided to build the round house as they did not have the money to pay rent or a mortgage or to build a traditional home. They designed and built the home on a piece of land provided by Hague’s parents.
Before building the Hobbit house, the couple lived in a caravan on the same piece of land. As they were expecting their first child, they wanted to remain close to their family.
Charles and Megan were inspired by the Lammas eco community, who built similar homes in their neighborhood. With no experience in building, the couple planned the construction of their new home.
The couple wanted their home to be environmentally friendly and free from carcinogens. The frame is constructed with local wood timber. The walls are reinforced with bales of hay. The roof is covered in plants. All of the materials used to construct the home are natural or recycled.
As reported by Daily Mail, five months after the birth of their son, they were told to demolish their home. Charles and Megan filed an appeal, hoping that the zoning commission would reconsider. Eight months later the initial ruling was upheld. The family must now vacate and demolish their home.
Charles and Megan are understandably upset with the decision. They have begun a petition at change.org. They are petitioning the Welsh Assembly for permission to keep their Hobbit house. The petition currently has over 6,000 signatures.
[Images via Facebook]
