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The controversial owners of a property on 'England's prettiest street' have been forced into demolition works after claims from neighbours they were turning their historic cottage into a 'monstrosity'.
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they → see → monstrosity
Metin Dener and his wife Gulbin are facing a humiliating climbdown after being refused permission for a 'huge' outdoor fireplace and landscaping work.
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Dener → face → fireplace
The couple own a Grade II-listed property on Awkward Hill, Bibury, Gloucestershire, and have carried out years of development thought to have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
But the scale of work has been dubbed 'cultural vandalism' and a 'flagrant disregard for the history and beauty of the area' by furious neighbours.
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scale → own → neighbours
Years of construction at the cottage have seen a huge fireplace installed and infilling of a niche within a section of retaining wall – projects the couple now claim through their contractors they believed were authorised as 'permitted works'.
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they → see → works
But the Grade II status of the cottage means these changes required planning permission, which was retrospectively rejected.
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which → mean → permission
They have now been forced to submit new plans to Cotswold District Council to rip down the outdoor fireplace and alter the landscaping work.
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They → force → work
The Deners bought the cottage for £1.1million in 2022 and works have been ongoing since 2023.
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works → buy → 2023
The homeowners at the centre of a major planning row on Britain's 'prettiest street', Metin and Gulbin Dener, pictured at the Savoy in London in 2017
The couple now face having to tear down a large fireplace and fill in a niche in retaining wall - although the two massive palm trees they have installed will remain
The house being renovated is on Awkward Hill, a street filled with chocolate box cottages, where the average house prices are £1.5million (Pictured in December 2025)
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prices → picture → December
Years of construction at the cottage have seen a huge fireplace installed and infilling of a niche within a section of retaining wall - projects the couple now claim through their contractors they believed were authorised as 'permitted works' (Pictured in December 2025)
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they → see → December
Years of construction at the cottage have seen a huge fireplace installed (pictured) and infilling of a niche within a section of retaining wall
They have withdrawn further proposals for an oak conservatory and stone summerhouse to be installed on the land, after also constructing an underground garage over the summer.
Two palm trees were also added to the front garden – festooned with fairy lights.
Conservation officers have now said the planned changes are acceptable, and the application is set to be approved so demolition can begin.
The plan comprises removing the unauthorised fireplace and infilling a niche within a section of retaining wall.
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plan → see → wall
It has also struck out attempts to construct stone steps leading through a lawned area and will see an unstable boundary wall rebuilt in traditional drystone to match the current height.
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wall → strike → height
The officer wrote: 'This application resolves many of my previous concerns regarding the unauthorised and harmful works within the setting of the listed cottage.
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application → write → cottage
'The outdoor fireplace is an uncharacteristic feature within the cottage's setting, and within the Bibury Conservation Area, which neither preserves nor enhances their respective significance.
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which → preserve → significance
'Therefore the removal of this unauthorised addition, and making good of this area with low stone planter walls and retaining wall to match the flanking masonry is accepted.
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removal → make → masonry
The presence of an arch-headed niche within the northern section of retaining limestone wall enclosing two existing palm trees, facing outwards from the site, is an uncharacteristic feature that harms the setting of the listed building and the appearance of the conservation area.
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that → retain → area
'The infilling of this niche with plain, dry-jointed limestone to match the adjacent masonry work is acceptable.'
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infilling → match → work
The couple installed the large fireplace (right) and two huge palm trees into their garden, which is clearly visible from the public road
Conservation officers have now said the planned changes are acceptable, and the application is set to be approved so demolition can begin
Residents say that years of construction work have turned the property into a 'monstrosity'
Bibury, in the Cotswolds, is famous for its beauty and tourists from all over the world flock to the area
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tourists → instal → area
Many local residents said they were 'horrified' by the damage that has been done (Pictured: December 2025)
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that → say → damage
The officer said further details of the landscaping plan allowing safety railing to be installed in the section of the retaining wall between the cottage and palm trees would need further assessment.
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railing → say → assessment
They added: 'Confirmation of the height of the dwarf wall between the parking area and garden is required, as are details and justification of the proposed railings to the retaining wall between the cottage and the palm trees.'
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details → add → cottage
They said the omission of the previously proposed 'sweeping stone steps' through a lawned area was 'welcomed' and said the appearance of the reconstructed collapsed wall was now 'reasonable'.
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appearance → say → wall
They added: 'The previous, refused scheme sought to erect a stone dwarf wall between the parking area and garden, with railings and double-leaf pedestrian gate, which was considered to be inappropriate to the character of the listed building and its conservation area setting.
'
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which → add → building
As such, the amended proposal to erect a low stone wall with a dog-leg northern extent to intersect the taller section of northern boundary wall is acceptable in principle.'
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proposal → amend → principle
In refusing the previous application, officers said its listed status meant the council was 'statutorily required' to pay special attention to the 'desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the area'.
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council → refuse → area
They said it had failed to preserve the setting of the Grade I-listed Arlington Row, and the character and appearance of the Bibury Conservation Area, 'diminishing their significance as designated heritage assets'.
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it → say → assets
They added: 'Whilst the level of harm to significance is considered less than substantial, it is still notable and not outweighed by sufficient public benefits to justify the harm caused.'
Local residents living on the street have previously expressed outrage about the ongoing development.
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residents → add → development
David Jacobs, 46, who has lived in the village for eight years, told the Daily Mail earlier this year the work has made him consider moving and selling his property.
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him → live → property
He said: 'This building work has been more than awkward.
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work → say → ?
How this has all gone ahead is beyond me.
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gone → go → me
'It looks like a war zone.
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It → look → zone
The roads have been blocked, we can't park anywhere.
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we → block → ?
The vehicles associated with the project park up the curb and on verges.
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vehicles → associate → verges
They've ruined grass.
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They → ruin → grass
I don't want to live here anymore, frankly.
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I → want → ?
I have had enough.
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I → have → enough
I am considering selling.
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I → consider → selling
I came here for its charm but there's not much charm anymore.'
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I → come → charm
In a plea to the owners, he told our reporter: 'Enough is enough, please stop.
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Enough → tell → reporter
We've had enough.
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We → have → enough
Please take on board what people are saying and stop.
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people → take → what
…and 18 more, not listed.
The Aporia
