**Omaze Dream Home Winner Faces Lengthy Wait Amidst Planning Row**
A former Miss Wales finalist remains in limbo months after being crowned the winner of a multi-million-pound coastal home, as planning issues surrounding the £6 million Norfolk property have stymied the handover process.
Victoria Curtis-Cresswell, 38, from South Wales, found her life transformed after winning the lavish home in Blakeney through an Omaze charity prize draw earlier this year. The windfall came as a shock for Curtis-Cresswell, who, until the victory, was living with her husband Dale, 41, and their young daughter in her in-laws’ three-bedroom house. The couple had been searching for a rental home for their family before entering the competition.
Despite the life-changing potential of the win, Curtis-Cresswell is yet to receive the keys or enjoy the opulent property due to a series of planning discrepancies that have come to light. An investigation by North Norfolk District Council revealed that the newly built Larkfields residence differs significantly from its originally approved plans.
Omaze, the company famed for purchasing luxury properties and raffling them off to raise substantial funds for charities, has pledged to resolve the planning issues before officially passing on ownership. The company is working in conjunction with the local planning authority, having submitted a pre-application and now preparing a retrospective planning application to regularise the situation.
While few official details have been shared about the exact nature of the breaches, inspection of public planning documents and available photographs suggests that the house was constructed on a larger scale than originally permitted, and that additional features—including a swimming pool and tennis court—may lack the necessary approvals.
These revelations have raised concerns for Curtis-Cresswell, who expressed her wish upon winning to sell the Norfolk mansion and invest in a new home closer to her roots in Wales. However, the entire process is now paused until the planning dispute is resolved, raising the prospect of a lengthy wait before she can take any further steps.
Omaze has reassured both the winner and the public that Curtis-Cresswell will not be liable for any costs incurred in rectifying the planning situation. In a statement, a spokesperson affirmed that “ownership of the property will only be transferred once every planning matter is fully resolved.” North Norfolk District Council, meanwhile, has communicated that they are expecting a formal application to be lodged and have advised on the necessary steps for the planning breaches to be addressed.
Yet, there is no assurance that retrospective permission will ultimately be granted. Should the council deny the application, Omaze could be required to undertake costly modifications, or potentially face enforcement action, echoing the high-profile case of the ‘Arcady’ residence in Cley where the owner was ordered to reconstruct large parts of the property after breaching approved plans.
The high-profile nature of the competition, which raised millions for Comic Relief as part of Red Nose Day, has only served to heighten interest in the saga. Plans to announce the winner live on BBC One were hastily cancelled when the planning concerns surfaced. Omaze, which guarantees at least 17% of all funds raised go directly to charity, has faced questions over the due diligence carried out prior to purchasing the property.
While the situation has cast a shadow over what should have been a moment of celebration, Curtis-Cresswell continues to await the final outcome, her future plans on hold until the legal situation is clarified. The development serves as a potent reminder of the complexities that can accompany even the most glittering prize, when property development and planning law collide.