When does a garden cease to be a garden?

A Santon couple had to apply for planning permission for their garden – after it turned out it wasn’t a garden at all.

In 2020, the McConvilles of Ballanahowe Farm Barns purchased their dream home and installed an outdoor hot tub, glamping pods and deck.

But because it turned out the land was zoned for agricultural use rather than gardens, they must now apply for retrospective planning permission.

In their application they said they wanted to change the use of the land to a residential garden.

They added that the real estate agent who sold them the house described it as a garden and they had no idea what it was.