A STORAGE Hunters star has had permission to build a house denied following a dispute with neighbours.
Daniel Hill had been at "war" with residents Haslingfield, Cambs, and was even arrested in December.
He had bought a small plot of land at auction for £18,000 and planned to build a home on the section in what he described as the "deal of the century".
But the council has now denied planning permission because officers said the site was of an “insufficient size” and in an “inappropriate location.”
Residents Caroline and Adrian Buggust who had used the land to garden say they are "relieved" at the decision.
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But they are still “concerned” about what will happen next.
They said: “There is definitely relief from the residents overall that the permission was refused but there’s also concern about what next.”
Residents had written to Greater Cambridge Shared Planning with letters of objection when Hill submitted the plans in February.
Hill was arrested in December but Cambridgeshire Police released him without charge following a three month investigation into harassment, criminal damage and common assault.
The TV star acquired the plot of land – along with a second piece of land - for £18,000 last November at an auction of assets of the original estate developer who had gone into liquidation.
He had allegedly charged neighbours £30,000 to park outside the plot of land.
In November, he felled a cherry tree that residents tried to protect.
Shocking footage shows him smirking as his workmen chopped down the tree.
Hill, who appeared in all five UK series of Storage Hunters from 2014 to 2016, boasted at the time that he had “done the deal of the century”
He said local residents should have “stuck their hand in their pocket” if they wanted the land.
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Hill later claimed the locals had been trying to drive him away since acquiring the land and accused them of “harassing” him and “causing criminal damage” to his property.
But the residents criticised him for his heavy handed behaviour.
Hill was arrested and bailed by Cambridgeshire Police in December, accused of harassment, criminal damage and common assault, but was released without charge two weeks ago.
He has since been seen back at his site on Baldock Road burning tyres and plastic.
Planning officers said the site was “of an insufficient size and an inappropriate location to accommodate the minimum amount of development to facilitate a single dwelling that would meet the nationally described space standards.
The statement added: “The introduction of any dwelling on the site would result in an undesirable form of cramped and contrived development in a prominent location that would be out of keeping with the character and appearance of the area and would give rise to harm to the amenities of neighbouring properties.”
In December Mr Hill said: “I saw this cheap bit of land at auction. That’s how I make my money, I buy stuff cheap and try to make a profit on it.
There is definitely relief from the residents overall that the permission was refused but there’s also concern about what next
Neighbours
“Originally I thought it was one of those things where it would go crazy money, it’s a beautiful village here. I was watching the auction and it landed around the £5,000 to £6,000 mark and I thought, I’ve got to have some of this.
“I started bidding and got it for £12,000, obviously there are fees on top, happy days, I actually thought I’d done the deal of the century. I was really happy with it.
“I come down here. I did all my research before. I thought there’s planning policy, support planning in the area, there’s no TPO’s, turned up here and started cutting the trees down, then wham all the villagers came out, almost like with their pitchforks and their angry faces, ‘no, no, no, you can’t have this land.’
“I said, ‘sorry I’ve bought it’, I couldn’t really understand what the problem was and ever since then they have been sour pusses.
"They didn’t buy it. I’m not going to buy any tears, this is not a poor area.
“You’ve got accountants, bankers, all kids of very wealthy people here. If they wanted the land they should have bought it.”
