It caused outcry among residents who said it gives a clear view into neighbouring properties and gardensRobert Harries Senior Reporter and Richard Evans, Local Democracy Reporter
09:18, 25 Dec 2025
Neighbours of 89 Tan y Bryn Road, Rhos on Sea, say a ‘prison-camp watchtower’ built without planning consent is overlooking their properties and making life a misery(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
A Welsh council is set to pursue enforcement proceedings to ensure a structure likened to a “prison watchtower” erected in an Airbnb garden is torn down.
The controversial construction, dubbed “monstrous” by one neighbour, appeared without planning permission in January 2024 at the holiday residence on Tan y Bryn Road, Rhos on Sea, causing an outcry among residents who said it gives a clear view into neighbouring properties and gardens.
Conwy council then confirmed that they’d ordered the owner, Jim Oates of JAM Domestic Properties Ltd, to remove the “tower”. The owner then went to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) to appeal and to request retrospective consent for the building, which PEDW has also now denied.
The council has now confirmed enforcement measures will proceed to guarantee the structure’s removal. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter
A council spokesperson stated: “The enforcement notice has been on hold pending the outcome of the enforcement appeal; now that this appeal has been determined, the developer has 10 weeks to complete the necessary works. The planning enforcement team will monitor this case to ensure that the notice is complied with.”
The spokesperson added that a fresh retrospective application lodged by the same developer for a reduced-size structure on the site will not impact the enforcement proceedings.
She explained: “The new application for a different and smaller outbuilding is being considered. There is no reason compliance with the notice should be delayed because of this application.”
A view of the structure from a neighbour’s garden (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Local residents claim the protracted planning dispute has caused considerable distress. Sheffield-based JAM Domestic Properties Ltd received approval for a garden room in 2016.
However, in February 2024, neighbours raised concerns about the construction of a larger outbuilding. Following an investigation by the council’s planning enforcement officer, the owners agreed to halt the work.
A retrospective planning application was subsequently submitted to legitimise the work but was rejected in June 2024. A further application was voluntarily withdrawn in March 2025.
The council then issued an enforcement notice in May 2025, which led the applicant to appeal the planning decision with PEDW.
While the appeal was under consideration, the applicant submitted a third planning application.
Nick Whitmore, a 35-year-old father who has resided at a neighbouring property with his partner and three young children since November 2021, expressed relief that the ordeal might finally be coming to an end: “We are delighted the ghastly prison watchtower will be demolished after the appeal to extend the removal failed and was dismissed by the planning inspector.”
However, he added a note of caution: “This has been a very stressful and difficult time for my family, neighbours, and me.
“However, it is absolutely breath-taking that we now discover another planning application has been made and so the merry-go-round continues with no respite for neighbours.”
JAM Domestic Properties Ltd was contacted for a comment.
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