Beauty finalist finally handed mansion keys

FORMER Miss Wales finalist who won a £6m Norfolk coastal home can finally claim her prize after councillors approved a series of planning breaches at the property.

- ELLIE GOSLEY

Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, from Caerphilly, had been unable to take ownership of the Larkfields property in Blakeney, which she won in a competition run by Omaze, due to an ongoing planning dispute.

An anonymous tip-off led to an investigation into the three-bedroom home, which was discovered to have been built differently from the approved plans.

This meant Omaze had to apply for retrospective permission to keep a four-bay garage, an eastern wing extension, a swimming pool, tennis court and other outbuildings.

Members of North Norfolk District Council's (NNDC) planning committee met this week to decide whether or not to grant permission for the changes.

Blakeney Parish Council urged NNDC to reject the application, arguing that it would send a message to rogue developers that planning processes “must be followed”.

"We hope you will reject this application so that others do not follow this unfortunate example,” said a representative for the parish council. However, NNDC councillors took a different view.

Conservative councillor Angie Fitch-Tillet admitted councillors were apprehensive about deciding on the application.