In a recent development, Captain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, and her husband have faced a setback as their appeal against the demolition order for an unauthorised spa at their home was rejected by Central Bedfordshire Council.
The couple initially used the Captain Tom Foundation name on the spa plans, which were subsequently revised and turned down. The foundation, established in June 2020 to honour Sir Tom’s renowned garden laps during the COVID pandemic, is currently under investigation by the Charity Commission. Notably, this inquiry is unrelated to the £38 million raised for NHS charities, a feat that earned Sir Tom a knighthood in July 2020.
The Second World War veteran, Sir Tom Moore, passed away in January 2021 at the age of 100, leaving a legacy of charitable contributions and public admiration. The foundation, created in his honour, aimed to continue his philanthropic spirit.
Later in the same year, Ms. Ingram-Moore and her husband obtained permission to build a Captain Tom Foundation Building on their £1.2 million property in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire. Plans for the site indicated its use in connection with the Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable objectives.
However, a subsequent retrospective application for a larger building with a spa pool was refused by the planning authority. Central Bedfordshire Council’s planning bosses issued an enforcement notice requiring the demolition of the “now-unauthorised building,” subject to an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.
In their appeal documents, the family argued that the building was “no more overbearing” than a previously approved application, asserting that the heights remained the same. They also emphasised that the building was positioned at the back of the site, minimising its impact on public view.
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