A builder who sparked outrage by erecting a grey steel cuboid on the side of his home has hit back at his “thick” neighbours who compared the extension to an “awful” shipping container.
Tony Norman had attached the swanky structure, which contains a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen extension, to his Victorian end-of-terrace home on Burton Street in Loughborough.
But neighbours hit back at the development, slamming its appearance and claiming it never should have received planning permission in a conservation area.
One resident said the “worst thing” about the refurb is the fact its bedroom – with an en-suite bathroom – overlooks the nearby Loughborough Amherst School’s all-weather playground and netball court, speaking to MailOnline.
The “shipping container”, shown here under construction, has sparked a war of words between neighbours and the property’s owner
Another neighbour, who lives to the rear of the steel box, was scathing in her criticism of the extension, claiming “everybody who lives here” was “disgusted” by the “horrible” structure.
She claimed that the building work on the “shipping container” had been ongoing for a number of years, and said she had been left “fuming” after getting a nail stuck in her foot while walking past the property over Christmas.
Numerous locals said the box was not in keeping with the character of the surrounding area; one said: “Things of historical importance are being pulled down and monstrosities like this are being put up. It’s crazy.”
Though most residents were unhappy with the development, some voiced their support; one said she liked it – despite it “standing out like a sore thumb” – adding: “People should be free to do what they want and express themselves in doing up their homes.”
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Some neighbours recalled how the extension had only been a garage when they moved in
Another man positively compared the metal structure to Loughborough Carillon – a landmark war memorial in the town, whose distinctive bell-tower can be seen from several miles away.
Though the house’s direct neighbours have claimed the extension has overshadowed flats next door; one person who lives in the flats said it “totally” blocks out light in both their lounge and front bedroom.
Neighbours also bemoaned the scaffolding, which had surrounded the “shipping container” for years as it was being built, and recalled how it had only been a garage when they moved in.
One even claimed that multiple residents had objected to the building’s planning, but had been overruled.
Despite the furore over his extension, Tony Norman has said he “loves it”, and launched into a scathing attack on naysayers, saying: “Old people and thick people don’t like it – but most young people do.”
Norman said he had been at the property for the last 18 months, adding that upon renovation, the family home could be worth around £1million.
He said the house had was bought three years ago by David Gattward, the director of Microkerf Ltd, a laser cutting, drilling and welding contractor from nearby Leicester.
Norman also revealed that the house’s owner liked to court controversy, and added: “He did say that it would divide people and would be a talking point, with some saying ‘Have you seen that house in Loughborough?’.”
Source Agencies
