A 34-year-old man has been ordered by York Crown Court to pay more than £26,000 after living in a home he built without planning permission in Deighton, near Northallerton. The judgment in October 2024 follows a long legal battle after the resident converted a farm building into a house without the correct approvals.
Liam Snowden ignored an official notice from 2020 to stop using the building at East Field Barn as a home and lost several appeals to keep the property. According to North Yorkshire Council, he continued to live in the barn despite having two separate planning applications refused.
The case moved to a higher court after the homeowner, who represented himself, elected for a trial by jury. This decision led to a four-day trial and significantly increased the legal costs, which the court has now ordered him to pay back to the council to protect local taxpayers.
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, fined the man £1,000 and ordered him to pay £25,029 in costs plus a £100 court surcharge. He must pay the total amount within three months or he will face a 30-day prison sentence.
Council officials stated that this outcome serves as a warning that they will take firm action against anyone who breaks building rules in the countryside. The property remains unauthorised for use as a home, meaning the owner could still face further action to remove the residence.
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