A call to let an architectural designer keep a self-built off-grid home in rural Pembrokeshire, erected without official permission, has been given the go-ahead.

Self-employed architectural designer Geoffrey Finnimore, assisted by Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Development and Planning Ltd, applied to Pembrokeshire County Council for a certificate of lawful development for his home at Tir Y Gafel, Coed Troednoeth, Glandwr.

A certificate of lawfulness can confirm that a development is immune from enforcement if the applicant proves it has been occupied for the required period.

A supporting statement accompanying the call said Mr Finnimore, who has previously been contracted to assist in the roof construction of outdoor learning spaces in three different primary schools around Haverfordwest, holds 4.5 acres of land at the site and has been the principal custodian of the land since the previous owner left the property in 2018 and subsequently offered it for sale to him, but had previously lived at Coed Troednoeth since 2014 in his campervan alongside a lean-to structure.

“This accommodation proved less than adequate for Mr Finnimores’ health and wellbeing and the requirement for improved accommodation became obvious. In 2019 he began to develop the lean-to structure into an independent dwelling.

“In June 2020 the land was purchased by Mr Finnimore and in November 2020, he began using the building as his principal dwelling, hence the justification to apply for a certificate of lawful use.”

A certificate of lawfulness call by Geoffrey Finnimore, with the assistance of Hayston Development and Planning Ltd, to keep a self-built home at Tir Y Gafel, Coed Troednoeth, Glandwr has been allowed. Picture: Geoffrey Finnimore application to Pembrokeshire County Council.
A certificate of lawfulness call by Geoffrey Finnimore to keep a self-built home at Tir Y Gafel, Coed Troednoeth, Glandwr has been allowed. (Pic: Geoffrey Finnimor)

The statement said the off-grid home needs no external services: its heating, electricity and water are provided or produced on site.

In a personal statement, Mr Finnimore said he had lived at Coed Troednoeth, formerly part of Berllan Dawel in Tir y Gafel, for more than 10 years. He said he earns less than £10,000 a year as a self-employed worker and provided evidence of his long-term residency.

“This application has been sought by the council, and I have had to comply out of a position of vulnerability with respect to the prospect of enforcement against a building and living situation that has been demonstrated to be well-established and that I hold is deemed lawful.”

He added: “In the context of a housing and a cost-of-living crisis I have taken care of my own needs. So far as the council’s responsibilities in that context goes, I see that as one less problem to solve. Conversely, I would consider a rejection of a well justified application like this as a contribution that exacerbates these deep and present social concerns.”

“Without my home—which I created to solve my own problems without state assistance—having to pay for other accommodation would be catastrophic for my finances and wellbeing.”

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Officers granted the certificate because they found, on the balance of probabilities, that Coed Troednoeth had existed and been occupied as a home for more than four years before the application, making it immune from enforcement action.