Tara Dexter has been ordered to tear down the micro farm she built on fly-tipped wasteland in Sidlesham, West Sussex, following a planning dispute.
The 57-year-old resident of Yapton spent two years turning the derelict plot into a smallholding, but her appeal to the Planning Inspectorate has now been dismissed. She has been given four months to dismantle the site and clear all structures.
Planning dispute and council enforcement
Ms Dexter became embroiled in a conflict with Chichester District Council after local officials objected to a container unit and timber sheds placed on the property, stating they breached countryside planning regulations.
When she submitted a retrospective planning application, the council refused permission. Officials later issued an enforcement notice requiring the total clearance of the smallholding.
In a statement, Chichester District Council explained that the application for a container on the land was refused by the council in 2024, as it conflicted with key policies aimed at protecting the countryside and because the site lies within a floodplain.
Ms Dexter expressed deep frustration over the council's stance on her work. "It's absolutely ridiculous. It seems the council and planners would rather have a fly-tipped wasteland than a managed smallholding," she said.
She added: "The place was an absolute tip when I took it over and I have totally transformed it and spent huge amounts of time, money and effort to make sure it blends with the environment and contributes to the wildlife."
"Other plots around me include a burnt-out barn and mountains of fly tipping? Fly-tipping which has been ignored by the council for years," she noted.
Transformation of wasteland site
Ms Dexter purchased the patch of wasteland for £57,000 while mourning the death of her partner. She spent two years clearing toxic rubbish, car parts, and waste that had accumulated on the property.
She invested significant time, money, and physical effort to restore the land. She planted around 2,000 plants, set up fencing, established hedgerows, and added raised beds across the smallholding.
To provide storage and shelter, she purchased a container for £20,000 and cladded it with wood to ensure it blended with the surrounding landscape.
"We'd always wanted a little slice of nature to work as a smallholding and when I saw this I snapped it up. It was £57,000 and was a real mess but I was prepared to work hard. I rolled up my sleeves and got to work," Ms Dexter said.
"I worked all the hours I could transforming it and clearing the rubbish and mess from the site. It now has around 2,000 plants, fencing, hedgerows and has been cleared of all the toxic rubbish that was here," she explained. "I bought a container for £20,000 and then cladded it with wood to ensure it blended in and the place looks lovely now. It really blends in with the environment."
The transformed plot quickly attracted wildlife, with deer and buzzards now visiting the land. Ms Dexter also keeps peacocks, chickens, and pigs on the farm.
Community visits and educational use
In addition to keeping animals, the smallholding has served as an educational space for local children. Pupils from a nearby primary school visit the land to take part in outdoor activities and help with daily farm tasks.
Ms Dexter also constructed a willow igloo on the site for disabled children who regularly visit to assist on the farm.
"Schoolchildren come on visits and are amazed by the rich variety of wildlife, flowers and plants. It's such a shame," Ms Dexter said. "I am devastated this will all stop. I hope the council and planners enjoy it when this place returns to a foul, toxic scrap of wasteland for fly-tippers."
During the transformation, Chichester District Council provided almost £3,000 in grant funding to help Ms Dexter plant trees, plants, and hedgerows across the site.
Ms Dexter said planning officials had initially indicated that the container would be acceptable if raised off the ground, leaving her confused when enforcement action followed.
"When I initially told them about the container they said that as long as it was on bricks or raised from the ground they had no issue with it but when I applied for permission they turned it down and then issued an enforcement notice against me," Ms Dexter said. "However the same council gave me close to £3,000 in grants to plant hedgerows, plants and trees. It seems like one department doesn't talk to the other. I was getting conflicting messages."
Tragic background and farm purchase
The smallholding was the realization of a shared dream between Ms Dexter and her veteran partner, Gary. The couple first met when she was 17 and he was 18, before reuniting later in life.
Gary served a 12-year career in the British Army, completing four operational tours, including service in Northern Ireland and Belize. He had been in good health and had not visited a doctor since 1998.
However, after suffering a seizure at work at the age of 52, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer and died six weeks later.
"This project has literally saved my life. I was so devastated by Gary's diagnosis and death," Ms Dexter said. "He was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer at the age of 52 after suffering a seizure at work and within six weeks he had passed away. It was absolutely devastating. He'd always been so healthy. He served four tours with the Army in a 12 year career including tours in Northern Ireland and Belize. He hadn't been to the doctor since 1998 but suddenly suffered a seizure and was diagnosed with cancer and that was it."
She explained that building the mini farm helped her manage her grief over the last two and a half years. "My mental health has not been great since Gary passed away. He was my soulmate. We first met when he was 18 and I was 17 and then got back together when we were older," she said. "My micro farm has been my retreat for the past two and half years and I don't know what I'm going to do without it."
Planning Inspectorate ruling and response
Sidlesham is a rural village located on the Manhood Peninsula in West Sussex, south of the cathedral city of Chichester. Planning policies in the area are administered by Chichester District Council, while appeals are determined by the Planning Inspectorate, an executive agency of the UK government responsible for deciding planning appeals across England and Wales.
In dismissing Ms Dexter's appeal, the Planning Inspectorate ruled that the container was harmful to its rural setting and uncharacteristic of the local area.
In reaching her decision, the inspector found the container harmful to its rural setting and uncharacteristic thereof. The inspector stated: "Although there may be a functional need for welfare facilities, secure storage and facilities for educational visits from children it had not been demonstrated that the same benefits could not be achieved in a less harmful way."
The Inspectorate confirmed that Ms Dexter has four months to remove the metal container building, dismantle and remove two timber buildings, break up and remove four timber planters, and break up and remove the concrete hardstanding and concrete plinths, along with all resultant debris.
Ms Dexter said she cannot continue operating the smallholding without the container and sheds, leaving her with no choice but to sell the land.
