**Outrage as Controversial Airbnb ‘Watchtower’ Ordered to Be Demolished in Conwy**
Residents in Rhos-on-Sea, Conwy, have expressed relief after the local council took decisive action against a striking new garden structure that has caused months of concern and anger. The imposing tower, built in the garden of an Airbnb rental on Tan y Bryn Road, has been slammed by neighbours as both “monstrous” and akin to a “prison-camp watchtower”—with many claiming it offers direct sightlines into multiple nearby homes and gardens.
The structure, which appeared suddenly in January 2024, was erected without first obtaining the necessary planning permission. For nearby residents like Nick Whitmore and his family, the development turned their dream neighbourhood into a source of daily stress. “It dominates our property and our neighbours,” Whitmore explained, recalling how personal privacy has been seriously compromised since the build. “Neighbours can’t even enjoy their breakfast in peace without feeling watched.”
JAM Domestic Properties Ltd, the owner of the property, had attempted to retrospectively secure planning permission for what they labelled a “garden room”. Nonetheless, those efforts were unsuccessful, with Conwy County Borough Council repeatedly rejecting the applications. Local objections focused on the scale of the construction and the way it loomed over adjacent gardens, impacting residents’ enjoyment of their homes.
On 17 June, the situation reached a turning point when the council issued an enforcement notice, demanding the structure’s removal. In a statement provided to the press, a spokesperson clarified: “An enforcement notice has been served which requires the removal of the structure.” Under the terms of the notice, the owner now faces a strict 10-week period to either comply with the demolition order or to file an appeal.
For locals fighting the construction, the council’s intervention marks a significant victory. Whitmore, who has lived in the area since 2021, described the enforcement action as “a huge relief,” adding, “We are thrilled they’ve been served with an enforcement notice and are looking forward to it being pulled down. Having such a dominating and intrusive structure right outside has completely overshadowed what should have been a peaceful home environment.”
The owners’ planning agents, Cadnant Planning, had previously argued in support of the platform, submitting a statement that downplayed concerns about increased overlooking. “Views from the raised platform into neighbouring properties were recognised as being available from the initial planning consent,” they stated, adding that the new construction did not, in their view, pose any significant additional threat to privacy or residential amenity.
However, this assertion failed to calm community tensions. Residents remained unconvinced, pointing towards the stark visual intrusion and subsequent loss of privacy as issues that the planning report, in their opinion, did not properly address. Calls for more strident enforcement of planning rules in the area have been repeated, with some residents suggesting that developments like these risk undermining trust in local planning controls.
Cadnant Planning has declined to make further comment regarding the enforcement notice or their client’s future intentions. Whether JAM Domestic Properties Ltd ultimately complies with the demolition order or launches a formal appeal remains to be seen.
The dispute has thrown a spotlight on the ongoing challenge of balancing property owners’ desires to develop or enhance their investments—particularly where short-term holiday lets such as Airbnbs are concerned—against the rights of long-term residents to feel secure and at ease within their own homes.
As the eviction deadline for the towering structure draws nearer, those living nearby will be watching closely to see if their months-long campaign results in the end of what has become an unwelcome landmark in their community. The outcome may set a precedent for how similar cases are handled across Wales in the future, particularly given the increasing scrutiny on the impact of holiday lets on local neighbourhoods.