Winner of Omaze £6m home in Blakeney to get the keys

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The winner of Omaze's £6m Norfolk mansion will be finally given the keys to the property - more than a year after she won it.

Vicky Curtis-Cresswell was crowned the winner of the Omaze Million Pound House Draw and became the owner of a New England-style property in Blakeney last year.

However, she was unable to take ownership of the house due an investigation which found the property was in breach of planning rules.

But now, with the planning matters finally resolved, Omaze has said the home is "ready for handover".

Norfolk houseThe £6m home in Blakeney on the north Norfolk coast (Image: Omaze)

The company said: "We are pleased to confirm that all remaining works at the Blakeney property have been completed, and the home is ready for handover.

"Omaze appreciates that the process has taken time given the initial planning-related matters initiated by third parties that have been fully resolved and looks forward to completing the handover shortly."

man and woman covered in confettiVicky Curtis-Cresswell and her husband Dale, from South Wales, won the Blakeney home. (Image: Omaze)

PLANNING WRANGLE

Mrs Curtis-Creswell may have hoped to move into the new property quickly after winning what was billed as Omaze's biggest ever prize draw, held to raise money for Comic Relief.

But an anonymous tip-off from a member of the public sparked an investigation into the three-bed home, which was found to have been built differently from the approved plans.

North Norfolk District Council found it had a number of elements built without the correct permission, including a swimming pool, extension, four-bay garage and tennis court.

The swimming pool at the Blakeney home, that may not have the correct planning permissionThe home comes with a swimming pool which did not originally have permission. (Image: Omaze)

Omaze, which had purchased the property a year prior, then had to apply for retrospective permission which was granted in October.

A source close to Mrs Curtis-Cresswell told the BBC she had had "an extremely stressful time" due to the uncertainty and "constant questioning for updates from friends, family and strangers".

Omaze said she had already received a £250,000 cash prize and has been "regularly updated and supported throughout the process".

It plans to arrange a walk-through of the property this month for her before the process is completed.

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