'Hidden house' farmer slams contempt conviction
Summary
A farmer in Derbyshire, Helen Lowe, was found guilty of contempt of court for not removing an unauthorized dwelling hidden inside her barn, despite orders from the local council and court. She says the building was used temporarily to care for her sheep and that health issues and family bereavement delayed her response to the council’s orders.Key Facts
- Helen Lowe built a hidden dwelling inside an agricultural barn without planning permission.
- Derbyshire Dales District Council ordered her to remove the structure starting from 2020.
- Lowe appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, but her appeal was dismissed in 2022.
- The court ordered her in September 2024 to remove the dwelling and stop living there.
- She did not comply with the court order and continued living in the barn.
- Lowe was found guilty of contempt of court in May 2025 and faces sentencing in August.
- The council can impose up to two years in prison or an unlimited fine.
- Lowe says she delayed removal due to health problems, her mother’s death, and believed recent planning law changes might allow her to keep the building.
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