McCartney lodge decision on hold

Sir Paul says he needs the secluded lodge to maintain his privacy

Sir Paul McCartney has won a temporary reprieve in his battle with planners to save a secluded log cabin at his estate in East Sussex from being pulled down.

The ex-Beatle has been at loggerheads with Rother District Council after it refused to give him retrospective planning permission for the property.

He said he needed the lodge in the grounds of Woodlands Farm, Brede Lane, Peasmarsh, to maintain his privacy.

The council has now agreed to consider a newly submitted planning application.

Legal action deferred

The council's planning committee met on Thursday to consider whether to issue a formal enforcement notice ordering Sir Paul to knock down the structure on the grounds that it spoilt the view on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The order would have given him three months to return the land to its original state or face prosecution.

However, councillors were told that aides to the 63-year-old had submitted a revised planning application on the eve of the meeting.

As a result, they decided to defer any enforcement action until the new application has been considered next month.

Legal action could follow if the application is rejected.