Tree house breaks planning rules

The tree house was built for the children in November

A children's wooden tree house may have to be demolished because it falls foul of planning rules.

Someone has complained about the house built by Robert Hardy for his children in the garden of their home at Halesworth in Suffolk.

"We are in a conservation area and apparently you need planning permission for a tree house," Mr Hardy said.

The future of the 4ft by 6ft (1.2m by 1.9m) house is due to be decided at a planning meeting on Wednesday.

"If the decision goes against us and, ultimately, it is going to have to come down it is going to be devastating news - particularly for my two small children who will be very upset," said Mr Hardy, an artist.

'Detrimental impact'

The house, on a raised platform around a mountain ash tree, was built in November 2005.

It was the view of the structure from a nearby public footpath that prompted the one complaint.

Waveney District Council has said it is a garden shed that had been built too high.

In a statement the council said: "The present structure has a detrimental impact... as the tree house is a garden shed and is in a highly visible position.

"The council would be willing to accept changes to its positioning and overall design."

The rural development control committee is to decide whether the tree house can stay or has to go.