The Independent
·Aug 2026
£4m Sandbanks Mansion Could Be Torn Down After Neighbour Wins High Court Battle
A £4 million mansion in Sandbanks may face demolition after the High Court quashed BCP Council’s retrospective planning approval. Neighbour Garth Weston successfully argued that the council’s assessment was unlawful because the planning officer did not visit the site and misunderstood the development’s impact on neighbouring properties, including privacy concerns raised by Celia Sawyer. The house’s owner, retired accountant Neil Kennedy, has submitted a new application to retain the already-built three-storey property, while the Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum continues to object over overlooking, noise and design issues.