Latest news with #SimonSmith
The Sun
07-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
We sold our house to lovely family so they could raise kids in the country… but I feel betrayed by their shocking plan
A MAN is fuming after being told his home of more than 60-years would be sold to a young family - only for the new owner to submit demolish plans. The historic cottage, called Hiawatha, was sold by Eric Abbott under the premise a young family would be moving in to raise their children in the countryside. 6 6 6 But now a planning application has been submitted to see it torn down to make way for more houses in the town of Swanmore, Hampshire. Mr Abbott, 94, has slammed the buyer after his own family cherished the property for more than 60 years. And he's not alone, nearly 1,000 local residents have joined him and signed a petition is support of halting the proposed development. They also submitted 200 objection letters during the consultation period expressing their frustrations. Meanwhile, current owner Simon Smith, who snapped up the property for £585,000, is going ahead with his application. He wishes to construct a two two-storey, four-bedroom houses. There will also be enough space for three cars to park, as well as gardens on each property, if plans are approved. In an objection, Mr Abbott, wrote a scathing letter which read: "As the previous owner of Hiawatha I was totally dismayed to see the change of heart of the new owners attempting to destroy Hiawatha and replace with totally unsuitable houses. "I instructed the estate agent to ensure my wonderful house was only sold to a family who would love it like I did and not destroy it. "The estate agent assured me that he had made this clear to the new owners and that they had agreed it to be their forever home which is all I ever wanted for another family to love it like I had for the last 64 years. "It seems were buying Hiawatha for financial gain. "I had been offered to sell to many builders and I declined as this house is party [sic] of history, it was there before chapel road was even made. "I would never have sold it had I known this was their intention and they knew that. "There is an ancient well that in the deeds demands that it should be operable for future water shortages in the village and this was a legal requirement. "I believe Hiawatha was built in the 15th century it is a beautiful flint cottage which should not be replaced with two identical new builds. "I feel it should remain standing and let the slow worms, birds, bats and many other species carry on living as they have been for many years. "I strongly object and do hope that this does not go ahead it would be a great shame to the wonderful village of Swanmore." David Hughes, 63, lives nearby and said: "I put in [an objection] saying I wasn't very keen on it, hopefully not from a nimby point of view. "If we're not careful, we'll have a lot of new houses here. "It's an unusual looking house, it breaks up some of the monotony of the architecture." Fellow local John Allen, 79, said: "The council like it, wouldn't it, more council tax, more money, that sort of thing." Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous said: "I don't think it's the prettiest building in the village, but my main concern for it is if they put two properties in it. "The road is already abused enough with traffic, I know there's three bedrooms [in each house]. "As we all know, if you've got three teenagers moved in all of a sudden you haven't got enough parking." An elderly female neighbour who also didn't want to be named added: "That's pretty poor, actually, I think. "I mean, they knew what they were going to be doing with it - that doesn't seem very honest." Ash Bennett, Mr Abbott's former neighbour, also said: "I've lived here 18, 19 years. "I was aware when they sold the house, I didn't know until more recently about what was going to happen to it. "I didn't follow it closely, but my understanding was that there was an agreement it wasn't going to be knocked down and developed, it would be renovated which isn't what they wanted to do. "Personally speaking, I would rather they wouldn't knock it down." The dad-of-three added: "I went in it 18 years ago, nothing much has been done to it since. "My understanding is it would require a lot of work to it." On the planning application, Historic England said there's no evidence to suggest property was built before the 19th century - but around 1840 to 1868. It read: "The building does not illustrate an important aspect of the nation's history, nor does it have the historic associations with nationally important individuals, groups, or events, which might give it historic special interest.' A decision is due to be made about the planning application on July 18. The new owner and the estate agent have been approached for comment. 6 6 6
Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘Historic' home to be demolished despite estate agent's promise to elderly owners
A historic home is set to be demolished in spite of the developer's pledge to sell it to a family. Eric Abbott, 94, lived in Hiawatha Cottage in Swanmore, Hants, for more than 60 years with his family, before agreeing to sell it on the condition that it went to a family who would enjoy it. But Simon Smith, the new owner, has since applied to Winchester city council for permission to tear it down in favour of two two-storey newbuilds with four-bedrooms each, parking for three cars and gardens. Mr Abbott, 94, a former company director, raised his family in the house with his wife Peggy before putting it on the market last year for £585,000. In an objection he wrote against the planning application, Mr Abbott said: 'As the previous owner of Hiawatha I was totally dismayed to see the change of heart of the new owners attempting to destroy Hiawatha and replace with totally unsuitable houses. 'I instructed the estate agent to ensure my wonderful house was only sold to a family who would love it like I did and not destroy it.' He claimed that the estate agent had assured him that the new owners wanted it to be 'their forever home', adding: 'All I ever wanted was for another family to love it like I had for the last 64 years.' Mr Abbott added: 'I had been offered to sell to many builders and I declined as this house is party of history, it was there before chapel road was even made. 'I would never have sold it had I known this was their intention and they knew that. 'There is an ancient well that in the deeds demands that it should be operable for future water shortages in the village and this was a legal requirement. 'I believe Hiawatha was built in the 15th century it is a beautiful flint cottage which should not be replaced with two identical newbuilds.' Neighbours have criticised the plans, claiming that they will not fit the character of the village, and will cause traffic problems on an already busy street around the corner from a primary school. Houses on the street cost an average of £800,000, and some buildings in Swanmore – which is mentioned in the Domesday Book – date back to the 16th or early 17th centuries. Villagers received flyers about the petition against the redevelopment, which has 931 signatures, through their letterboxes. The flyers said the cottage was being 'flattened' and replaced with 'two modern, bland newbuilds'. Two hundred objections Almost a thousand people have signed a petition to stop the development and 200 objections were written during the public consultation period for the plans. Neighbour David Hughes, 63, said the current cottage was 'unusual' but 'breaks up some of the monotony of the architecture'. He added: 'If we're not careful, we'll have a lot of new houses here.' Meanwhile, another neighbour, John Allen, 79, said the verbal agreement 'isn't worth the paper it's written on'. On the planning application, Historic England said there is no evidence to indicate that the building predates the 19th century – it is believed to have been built between 1840 and 1868. It said: 'The building does not illustrate an important aspect of the nation's history, nor does it have the historic associations with nationally important individuals, groups, or events, which might give it historic special interest.' A decision is due to be made about the planning application on July 18.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Domesday Book village is up in arms as new owner of £585,000 historic cottage applies to bulldoze it in favour of 'modern, bland new-build' homes
Villagers are up in arms after the new owner of a £585,000 historic cottage applied to bulldoze it to make way for new-build homes. Eric Abbott has also hit out at new owners of the property he lived in for more than 60 years after claiming they only sold it on the condition that it would be lived in by a family. Almost a thousand people have now signed a petition to stop the development in Swanmore, Hampshire, and 200 objections were written during the public consultation period for the plans. New owner Simon Smith has submitted an application to Winchester City Council to demolish the house and build two two-storey modern houses with four bedrooms each, parking for three cars and gardens. Neighbours think that the new build won't fit in well with the character of the village, and will cause traffic problems on an already busy street which is around the corner from a primary school. Houses on the street cost an average of £800,000, and some buildings in Swanmore - which is mentioned in the Domesday Book - date back to the 16th or early 17th centuries. Villagers received flyers about the petition against the redevelopment, which has 931 signatures, through their letterboxes. The flyers said that the cottage, known as Hiawatha, is being 'flattened' and replaced with 'two modern, bland new-builds'. Former company director Mr Abbott, 94, raised his family in the property with his wife Peggy. It was sold after being put on the market last year for £585,000. In an objection he wrote against the planning application, Mr Abbott said: 'As the previous owner of Hiawatha I was totally dismayed to see the change of heart of the new owners attempting to destroy Hiawatha and replace with totally unsuitable houses. 'I instructed the estate agent to ensure my wonderful house was only sold to a family who would love it like I did and not destroy it. 'The estate agent assured me that he had made this clear to the new owners and that they had agreed it to be their forever home which is all I ever wanted for another family to love it like I had for the last 64 years. 'It seems they lied and were buying Hiawatha for financial gain. 'I had been offered to sell to many builders and I declined as this house is part of history, it was there before Chapel Road was even made. 'I would never have sold it had I known this was their intention and they knew that. 'There is an ancient well that in the deeds demands that it should be operable for future water shortages in the village and this was a legal requirement. 'I believe Hiawatha was built in the 15th century it is a beautiful flint cottage which should not be replaced with two identical new builds. 'I feel it should remain standing and let the slow worms, birds, bats and many other species carry on living as they have been for many years. 'I strongly object and do hope that this does not go ahead it would be a great shame to the wonderful village of Swanmore.' David Hughes, 63, lives nearby and hopes he's not a 'nimby' for wanting the house to keep its character. The scientist said: 'I put in [an objection] saying I wasn't very keen on it, hopefully not from a nimby point of view. 'If we're not careful, we'll have a lot of new houses here. 'It's an unusual-looking house, it breaks up some of the monotony of the architecture.' The villager admitted that he was surprised 'how many other people were that bothered about it'. Swanmore local John Allen thinks that the council like the idea of the demolition because replacing the house with two houses will bring in more council tax. The 79 year old retiree said: 'The council like it, wouldn't it, more council tax, more money, that sort of thing.' Paraphrasing film producer Samuel Goldwyn in reference to Mr Abbott's agreement with the new owners, he said 'a verbal agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on'. 'He should've got it done legally,' he said. A middle-aged female neighbour who wanted to remain anonymous said she had signed the petition against the redevelopment. She said: 'I don't think it's the prettiest building in the village, but my main concern for it is if they put two properties in it. 'The road is already abused enough with traffic, I know there's three bedrooms [in each house].' 'As we all know, if you've got three teenagers moved in all of a sudden you haven't got enough parking.' An elderly female neighbour who also didn't want to be named said that it's 'bad' that the new owners didn't honour the agreement not to demolish the house. 'That's pretty poor, actually, I think,' she said. 'I mean, they knew what they were going to be doing with it - that doesn't seem very honest.' Ash Bennett, Mr Abbott's former neighbour, a 54 year old air traffic controller said: 'I've lived here 18, 19 years. 'I was aware when they sold the house, I didn't know until more recently about what was going to happen to it. 'I didn't follow it closely, but my understanding was that there was an agreement it wasn't going to be knocked down and developed, it would be renovated which isn't what they wanted to do. 'Personally speaking, I would rather they wouldn't knock it down.' The father of three added that the house needs 'a lot of work'. He said: 'I went in it 18 years ago, nothing much has been done to it since. 'My understanding is it would require a lot of work to it.' On the planning application, Historic England said that there is no evidence to indicate that the building predates the 19th century - it is believed to have been built between 1840 and 1868. It said: 'The building does not illustrate an important aspect of the nation's history, nor does it have the historic associations with nationally important individuals, groups, or events, which might give it historic special interest.' A decision is due to be made about the planning application on July 18.
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Abuse In Care Survivors Campaign Wins Global Gold Award In London
Press Release – Stuff Abuse in Care – Shattering The Shadows, a Stuff Group content series directed by the survivor advisory group of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, won best Political Programme over entries from international organisations such as … A groundbreaking content series telling the stories of survivors of one of the country's most shameful periods has been awarded a Gold award at the global Native Advertising Awards in London. Abuse in Care – Shattering The Shadows, a Stuff Group content series directed by the survivor advisory group of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, won best Political Programme over entries from international organisations such as the EU. The campaign told the stories of just six of the estimated 200,000 children and young people who were abused while in the care of State and faith-based organisations between 1950 and 1999. With a focus on healing and hope, these heartwrenching accounts of lives devastated by abuse were created and curated by Stuff's Commercial Content team, led by Content Director Simon Smith. Tu Chapman, one of the Survivor Advisory Group Experts said the award was a wonderful acknowledgement of what was a very powerful content series. 'Our (survivors) fight for justice continues,' she said. 'Thank you to Stuff for elevating our voices.' Stuff Group's Commercial Content team also won two bronze awards on the night, for an innovative campaign for Triton Hearing, Get Amongst It, which prompted Kiwis to experience how loss feels through gamification and other channels, including print. Smith, who was in London to receive the awards, said the Shattering the Shadows acknowledgement was particularly poignant. 'We spend our days creating content that moves and engages our large audiences at Stuff and being able to do this for those who spoke out at the Royal Commission of Inquiry was very special,' he said. 'We strive always to create campaigns that resonate through storytelling in all its forms. Sometimes it is the beauty of carefully crafted words and images. Sometimes it is brand-new digital ways to connect. All of this was awarded at the Native Advertising Awards this year, among some of the largest and best media brands in the world.' About Stuff Group Proudly independent and New Zealand-owned, Stuff connects with around 3.4 million Kiwis every month across its major businesses, delivering quality news, content and experiences that help make Aotearoa a better place. Stuff Digital has unrivalled reach across the nation through number one news website and homegrown social network Neighbourly. Stuff Masthead Publishing connects with audiences through subscriber-led digital and printed metropolitan, regional and community publications, as well as a range of much-loved consumer magazines. Stuff Brand Connections arms advertisers and partners with a comprehensive range of cross-media advertising and Stuff Events solutions. Find out more at
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Abuse In Care Survivors Campaign Wins Global Gold Award In London
Press Release – Stuff Abuse in Care – Shattering The Shadows, a Stuff Group content series directed by the survivor advisory group of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, won best Political Programme over entries from international organisations such as … A groundbreaking content series telling the stories of survivors of one of the country's most shameful periods has been awarded a Gold award at the global Native Advertising Awards in London. Abuse in Care – Shattering The Shadows, a Stuff Group content series directed by the survivor advisory group of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, won best Political Programme over entries from international organisations such as the EU. The campaign told the stories of just six of the estimated 200,000 children and young people who were abused while in the care of State and faith-based organisations between 1950 and 1999. With a focus on healing and hope, these heartwrenching accounts of lives devastated by abuse were created and curated by Stuff's Commercial Content team, led by Content Director Simon Smith. Tu Chapman, one of the Survivor Advisory Group Experts said the award was a wonderful acknowledgement of what was a very powerful content series. 'Our (survivors) fight for justice continues,' she said. 'Thank you to Stuff for elevating our voices.' Stuff Group's Commercial Content team also won two bronze awards on the night, for an innovative campaign for Triton Hearing, Get Amongst It, which prompted Kiwis to experience how loss feels through gamification and other channels, including print. Smith, who was in London to receive the awards, said the Shattering the Shadows acknowledgement was particularly poignant. 'We spend our days creating content that moves and engages our large audiences at Stuff and being able to do this for those who spoke out at the Royal Commission of Inquiry was very special,' he said. 'We strive always to create campaigns that resonate through storytelling in all its forms. Sometimes it is the beauty of carefully crafted words and images. Sometimes it is brand-new digital ways to connect. All of this was awarded at the Native Advertising Awards this year, among some of the largest and best media brands in the world.' About Stuff Group Proudly independent and New Zealand-owned, Stuff connects with around 3.4 million Kiwis every month across its major businesses, delivering quality news, content and experiences that help make Aotearoa a better place. Stuff Digital has unrivalled reach across the nation through number one news website and homegrown social network Neighbourly. Stuff Masthead Publishing connects with audiences through subscriber-led digital and printed metropolitan, regional and community publications, as well as a range of much-loved consumer magazines. Stuff Brand Connections arms advertisers and partners with a comprehensive range of cross-media advertising and Stuff Events solutions. Find out more at
