Star's country house work angers residents

BUT RETROSPECTIVE PERMISSION GIVEN

- TOM BEVAN and JAMIE HAWKINS

BLUR and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn angered neighbours of his Devon ‘country house’ by installing a heat pump without permission. The London-based Britpop star wanted to install the pump at his village home in the South Hams in an Area of Outstanding Beauty.

But the singer, who has just released the band’s first album in eight years ahead of a series of sell-out concerts this summer, landed himself in hot water for already carrying out the work on the ‘noisy eyesore’ before being given permission.

A report on the South Hams Council planning portal also heard concern was raised over the wooden cladding, instead of the agreed metal, he used on a refurbished workshop and studio that he had previously been given permission for.