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Search the Public Notice PortalWith her background as a diplomat, she will be no stranger to dealing with awkward situations.
But Sarah Cowley might have hoped her return to Norfolk to take charge at the Broads Authority (BA) would lead her to somewhat quieter waters.
Alas, she has already found herself embroiled in a dispute with the Freemen of Norwich, an ancient order of civic dignitaries who protect the city's heritage, over her home in one of its most upmarket neighbourhoods.
Ms Cowley, a former ambassador to Latvia, and her husband Paul Boschi are currently locked in a planning row over their Grade II listed Georgian property, which they are soon to relocate to after her appointment as chief executive of the BA, on £100,000 a year.
To prepare for their arrival, the couple have applied to build an extension to the home, on Town Close Road, off Newmarket Road, which last sold for £1.4m.
The property already has a modern addition on the ground floor and now the couple want to build a first-floor extension on top of it.
But they have been blocked by Norwich City Council following fierce backlash from the 'Freemen of Norwich'.
The group have branded the extension "incongruous" to the historic surroundings in a lengthy objection letter.
They also fear homes next door would be "overshadowed" by the extension.
The group, which now runs a charitable trust, traces its roots back to the 15th century when the Freemen - a group of prominent citizens - set up a form of government for the city which lasted until the 1800s.
Even after the changes in the 19th century, the Freeman retained ownership of the Town Close Estate, the triangle of land bounded by Newmarket Road, Ipswich Road and Eaton Road.
A number of properties in the estate have since been sold off but the Freemen still maintain an interest in the area.
The Freemen are nowadays made up of Norwich 'big wigs', including former city mayors and senior councillors, scientists, lawyers and business leaders.
Until recently, one of their members, Labour councillor Dr Kevin Maguire, was a Broads Authority member until his tenure finished last year.
Following their complaints about the couple's home, Norwich City Council planning officers agreed the extension would not fit in with the surroundings and refused it permission.
The officials said it would be "overdominant" and said the changes would be "irreversible and constitute lasting damage" to the 19th century home.
But now Ms Cowley and Mr Boschi are appealing to the Planning Inspectorate - the government department that presides over planning disputes - to overturn the decision.
This has resulted in renewed objections against the scheme, with one neighbour saying the extension will "fail to respect the historic character and architectural vernacular" of the heritage buildings in the street.
They also argued it could affect the privacy of the couple's neighbours.
In a lengthy retort, the couple's planning agent, Evert Amador, argued the council and freemen have overstated the potential harm the extension would have on the surroundings.
He added: "Respectfully, how can the first floor extension be incongruous when its design does not differ from the approved ground extension?"
The couple have urged the inspector to overturn the council's decision and the government officials will now review the scheme before making a decision.
FOREIGN OFFICE HIGH FLIER
Mrs Cowley has had an impressive 20-year career at the Foreign Office and has travelled around the world working as a British ambassador.
Originally from Norfolk, she has served as the ambassador to Latvia and most recently she was posted to Madrid as the deputy head of mission.
But now her husband and two young children are returning to her home county after she was appointed chief executive of the Broads Authority.
She will replace John Packman, who is retiring after 25 years of service.
She is expected to start by August and part of her role will be overseeing the BA's planning department, which manages development in the Broads area and imposes strict controls in some areas to protect the environment.
HER FREEMAN FOES
The Norwich City Charter of 1406 gave the Freemen of Norwich the power to set up a system of self government.
Aldermen and councillors were all Norwich Freemen, elected by fellow Freemen to promote and protect their freedom to trade.
At that time, admission to the Freedom was either by being the son of a Freeman or by being apprenticed to a Freeman for seven years.
The 1835 Municipal Corporation Act effectively removed this system and replaced it with the modern system of government, but the Freemen retained an interest in the Town Close Estate.
The area had been used and then owned by the Freeman since the 16th century.
Because of its position, just outside the city walls and on the main roads south, it increased significantly in value over the centuries.
In recent decades, the Freemen have sold off parts of it and reinvested the proceeds to support their charitable aims of funding educational grants and pensions to Freemen, their children and their widows.
Surplus income goes to registered charities with an educational purpose within a 20-mile radius of the Norwich Guildhall.
Since a change in 2010, women have been able to become Freemen. There are currently more than 1,000 Norwich Freemen, around 250 of whom are women.
The group hold an event at City Hall every five years where committee members and trustees are appointed.
The Lord Mayor presides, and confirms the election of the successful candidates.
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