Millionaire could be forced to tear down pirate island
A millionaire who owns a pirate island on his family's Cambridgeshire estate could be forced to tear it down as he did not apply for planning permission.
South Cambridgeshire District Council says James Challis's 60-acre Challis Island has no planning permission, Yahoo! reports.
Mr Challis's family has now launched a retrospective planning application in a bid to preserve the island at Landbeach.
The Daily Mail reports that South Cambridgeshire district council said: "A 21-day consultation on the retrospective planning application has just begun, to help us gather local views before any decisions are made.
"We always encourage residents and businesses to contact us before carrying out any development so we can give them advice and help them consider what planning permissions will be needed. Avoiding retrospective planning applications often means the whole process is quicker and cheaper for the applicant."
Challis Island comes complete with a mock pub, day chalet and sun deck.
The site was originally bought by the late John Dickerson, who ran numerous successful businesses in Cambridgeshire.
It is located between industrial lands and includes a beach with a stream, lagoon and waterfall for the family and their guests to enjoy.
It holds Georgian-style colonial buildings, which were prefabricated by a company called The Master Wishmakers and designed to look as though they have been abandoned.
They include The Black Doubloon, which is a place to entertain, and Coffer's Cabin, which is a day chalet built in the style of a military commander's office.
Lubbers Locker is a small beach hut, while Dead Man's Deck is a sun deck for barbecues built in the style of the ruins of a military post.
The family are expected to hear of the island's fate within weeks.
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