A couple who have been ordered to demolish their contemporary property in a leafy coastal village after a lengthy planning dispute hope to replace it with another home.

London theatre producer Adam Spiegel and his wife Gay have been ordered to tear down the house they built in Cley, between Wells and Cromer, after a long-running battle.

The Planning Inspectorate has set a deadline of October 18, 2024, for the house on Holt Road, called Arcady, to be removed from the site.

Eastern Daily Press: Arcady, on the Holt Road at CleyArcady, on the Holt Road at Cley (Image: Chris Bishop)

Now parish council papers reveal the couple hope to replace it with another property.

Minutes of a meeting say planning consultant Tim Schofield has delivered a presentation to councillors on his "initial thoughts around a proposed new dwelling on the plot of Arcady".

They go on: "A meeting has been held with Martyn Fulcher, the planning director, at North Norfolk District Council and it has been agreed that a fresh application must focus on a replacement dwelling for the original bungalow, which was on the site."

Eastern Daily Press: People living in Cley will be consulted over a fresh planning applicationPeople living in Cley will be consulted over a fresh planning application (Image: Chris Bishop)

Mr Schofield said neighbours would be consulted before a planning application was made over the winter.

Minutes add: "A question was asked about the type and style of building, Mr Schofield confirmed that they haven’t got that far along the process yet."

Locals branded the house "a fortress" and said it had been built without the correct planning permission.

Eastern Daily Press: A view across the marshes to the picturesque windmill at CleyA view across the marshes to the picturesque windmill at Cley (Image: Chris Bishop)

In 2013, NNDC rejected the Spiegels' bid to build a two-storey house and swimming pool because the design was "inappropriate" for the Cley Conservation Area.

A year on, the decision was overturned by the Planning Inspectorate, with permission granted on the condition the development had to be carried out in accordance with the drawings in the original plan.

But in 2019, the council served an enforcement notice to demolish all buildings on the site because the development was "materially different" to the approved plan and of "increased scale, height and mass".

The owners' appeals were rejected.