Neighbours' fury as doodle artist's quirky beach home set to be approved

Sam Cox, known as Mr Doodle has put forward a proposal for an eye-catching bungalow in Dungeness, Kent.

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A well-known artist is set to win his battle to have a quirky, doodle-covered beach home built despite objections from his neighbours.

Sam Cox, known as Mr Doodle, has put forward a proposal for an eye-catching bungalow in Dungeness, Kent, inspired by his work. In January, members of Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) had to hold off approving the scheme following concerns the development had not been adequately advertised.

When planning applications are made, the council must place laminated yellow notices nearby, which it did not do in this instance. Letters had been sent to all nearby residents, and the plan had been advertised in the press, but at the meeting, committee chairman Jackie Meade called for the decision to be deferred because of a lack of notices at the Romney Marsh site.

Following the meeting, two additional posters were erected adjacent to the application site on either side of the highway. Now, Mr Cox’s plan to replace an existing home with a unique three-bedroom structure incorporating railway carriages and laser-cut doodles on the exterior will yet again go before the planning committee.

Officers at FHDC have recommended the scheme for approval despite fierce opposition from residents, who among them lodged 46 objections on the planning portal.

One labelled it a “vanity project” with no artistic inspiration or “spiritual understanding” of the beach location. Another likened the plans to the “Disneyfication” of Dungeness.

Concerns were also raised about wildlife, with the land listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). One objector suggested curious animals could get stuck and injured in the metal artwork.

Lydd Town Council has also objected, saying it would “result in loss of character”.

But architects Hollaway Studios, which submitted the designs on behalf of Mr Cox, said the replacement home “embodies a thoughtful response to its context”.

Since January, additional computer-generated images have been released to clarify some design aspects.

The report released ahead of FHDC’s next meeting reads: “The applicant has provided additional CGI images, showing the designs of the “doodles” themselves and the materials proposed.

“It is not considered the doodles themselves would appear overly large or add clutter to the elevations, to the extent they would detract from the character and appearance of the conservation area or visual amenities of the wider area.”

Mr Cox, a former pupil at Homewood School in Tenterden, lives in St Michaels with his son and wife Alena in a mansion he has covered from top to bottom in black-and-white doodles.

He bought the 12-room home in December 2019 and, two months later, began renovating it and creating a white space for the canvas.

He has more than 3.2 million followers on Instagram. FHDC’s planning committee meeting will be held on Tuesday (March 18).

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