Owner of 'Travelodge' mansion ordered to tear down 'ugly' house

Updated
 Adam Spiegel’s property in the village of Cley in Norfolk. (SWNS)
Adam Spiegel’s property in the village of Cley in Norfolk. (SWNS)

A West End theatre producer has been ordered to pull down his modern home – which has been compared to a Travelodge.

Adam Spiegel was instructed to demolish the property in Norfolk following a four-year battle when the council ruled it was bigger than his plans had allowed.

The executive, credited for theatre hits Mousetrap and Hairspray, has now been given until October to tear down the home in the village of Cley, apart from the swimming pool, which can be left as it is.

Locals have criticised the flat-roofed and wood-panelled property that sits at odds with many buildings in the local area.

Theatre producer Adam Spiegel. (Getty)
Theatre producer Adam Spiegel. (Getty) (Dave Benett/Getty Images for STUDIOCANAL UK)
Neighbours have likened the building to a Travelodge hotel. (SWNS)
Neighbours have likened the building to a Travelodge hotel. (SWNS)

A villager who asked not to be named said: "The building is just so ugly and over the top. It is far too big and looks like a Travelodge hotel. It towers over the village."

Another resident added: "It looks like a monstrosity from here and it's not in keeping with the village at all.”

However, another man said: "I don't think it looks particularly bad.

"It's tucked away in the trees, there's a lot worse than that in Burnham Market and they do live in it - it's not like that's a holiday home."

While a fourth added: "It doesn't look too bad does it, it's not as bad as it looked on the TV.

"I must admit it wouldn't be my choice, but people do knock things down and build."

The property is located in the village of Cley. (SWNS)
The property is located in the village of Cley. (SWNS)

Spiegel’s plan to build the two-story property was initially rejected by Cley Parish Council in 2013 as "inappropriate".

The Planning Inspectorate later overturned the decision, with permission granted if the development was carried out using drawings in the original plan.

In 2019, the council served an enforcement notice on Spiegel to demolish all buildings on the site because the development was bigger than the approved plan.

He has now been ordered to tear down the property within months.

Spiegel and his wife Gay lodged a revised planning application, which was turned down.

Their appeal for the retention of the property was dismissed by a government planning inspector last week.

Yahoo News UK has contacted Spiegel for comment.

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