John Phillips, with his wife Kerrie Garrett and daughter Darcy, has been ordered to tear down the chalets(Image: Courtesy of John Phillips / SWNS)

Fuming dad forced to tear down luxury Airbnb cabins after two-year planning row

Four luxury cabins, including hot tubs, built by a family in the Gower, South Wales in 2022 have been ordered to be torn down by Swansea Council, after a bitter two-year dispute

by · The Mirror

A fuming dad ordered to tear down four luxury cabins after a two-year fight with a local council has called the decision “madness”.

John Phillips, 39, built the chalets in his garden in the Gower, South Wales in 2022, which were put on Airbnb for around £185 a night. However, they were built without planning permission and his retrospective application was turned down.

He has now been ordered by Swansea Council to cease rentals and knock down the structures, which boast impressive views of the Wales Coast Path and Loughor Estuary, within six months. The time limit was boosted to 12 months to comply with the order to demolish and restore the land.

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One of Mr Phillips' four chalets built in his garden in( Image: Courtesy of John Phillips / SWNS)

Describing the order as “madness”, John said: “It’s really unfair - it’s one rule for us and another for everyone else. They [the council] have just awarded a house in our village permission to build a ten room Airbnb."

"We won’t be able to afford to pay our bills if this happens. It pays our living - it’s our full-time job. We haven’t looked at price for demolishing it. We are going to fight this every step of the way."

The little homes offer incredible views of the nearby scenery( Image: Courtesy of John Phillips / SWNS)
Each contained a hot tub for guests to enjoy( Image: Courtesy of John Phillips / SWNS)

John, who lives on the site with his wife Kerrie Garrett, 34, and four-year-old daughter, added they have hired a planning consultant and are currently working on an appeal, Manchester Evening News reported.

He added: “We’re from Swansea and they don't like someone from outside the Gower coming in. It seems like there is a hidden vendetta against us. It's all who you know down here."

The four chalets were the family's source of income( Image: Courtesy of John Phillips / SWNS)

Swansea Council responded by saying: "We welcome the decision of the planning inspector in supporting the previous enforcement actions taken by the council in relation to this unauthorised development.

"Hopefully the outcome of this case will send out a clear message that anyone considering development in the city should make sure they do so with the proper planning permissions in place.

"This is particularly important in terms of development on Gower because of its protected status where additional planning policies are in place to ensure development is appropriate for Gower and in the right location.”