Widow ‘Left Homeless’ After Council Says New House Painted Wrong Colour

Jayne Fawcett in front of her dream home/SWNS

A widow claims she has been left homeless after being told her modern dream home has been painted the wrong colour.

Jayne Fawcett, 62, of Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire, designed her house with her late husband John, choosing a grey render for the external walls because the bricks they wanted were not available.

The home was built after being signed off by planning bosses - but when Mrs Fawcett applied for alterations to a wet room, she was told she would have to change the property’s external colour.

However, Mrs Fawcett, who works in Waitrose, claims that the long-lasting grey K-Rend render on the three-bedroom detached property was initially deemed appropriate.

Mrs Fawcett said: “Nothing was ever mentioned stipulating the colour of the render. If it had been, we’d have waited for the bricks to become available.

“John and I decided that it was a contemporary design and had to be grey, so I’ve continued with his wishes. The K-Rend is also maintenance free - which, as a widow working part-time, I have to be careful about.

“The council says it’s not in keeping with the area, but it’s built in my mum’s orchard and she’s the only one looking at it. She doesn’t want it in white or cream because it would stand out like a sore thumb.”

Mrs Fawcett claims she cannot move in to her dream abode/SWNS

Having sold her old home, Mrs Fawcett has been living with friends and family since July after being told she could not move into the new build until it was signed off by planning bosses.

Mrs Fawcett, whose husband passed away in March 2014, fears she would be breaking the law if she moved in, and cannot afford the paint required to repaint the house after being quoted £20,000.

She also appealed the planning decision to the Secretary of State, but this has been declined.

Mrs Fawcett added: “I’ve had no confirmation of that at all and don’t want to break the law. And nobody has been to rate it for council tax, so how can I just move in?”

In response, South Ribble Borough Council claim there is nothing currently prohibiting Mrs Fawcett from moving into her home.

It said when a planning application for a new building is received, it is normal to impose a condition requiring the details of the materials to be agreed. A spokesman said the decision notice issued to Mrs Fawcett’s agent contained this information, as did the appeal decision.