Billie Faiers in new council row over building 7ft wall at £1.4million Essex mansion

BILLIE Faiers has lost her battle with planners to build a 7ft barrier at her Essex mansion.

The 33-year-old reality star wanted to build a 12ft wide solid timber gate with brick piers at the entrance of her £1.4million home to increase security.

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But local council officials blew up the “imposing” and “domineering” barrier and said it would cordon off the home from the street.

And they said the gate, painted black, would clash with their 1920s Arts and Crafts-style block and detract from the character of the area.

They added, “As such, the proposed gateway and brick piers, due to their height, design and infill, would have a dominating effect on the surrounding street scene that would completely enclose the site at street level.”

Former Towie star Billie and husband Greg Shepherd had previously been given the go-ahead to demolish a garage and sunroom and build three additions, including a new front porch, to their four-bedroom home.

She also received planning permission for a new driveway and entrance gates, but then submitted revised plans.

In the application form, her planning agent said: “The applicant’s landscape architect suggested a different design for the entrance gates.

“These will feature brick piers with solid gates to provide privacy for the homeowner. The homeowner is a local celebrity so wants a good level of privacy from the roadside.”

But council officials scrapped the revised plans for the gates, despite no objections from neighbors.

The planning officer said: “The proposed brick piers and gateway are not considered contextually appropriate.

“The proposed brick columns are both wider and taller, making an imposing impact on the surrounding street scene.

“Moreover, the gates lack transparency, completely shielding the site from inward views and appearing as a barrier between the site and the street, which would alienate it from the community due to the infill and gate height.”

In August 2020, when they bought the home, Billie had admitted she hadn’t spoken to the neighbors, who wrote to the council to oppose some of their renovation plans.

“We didn’t see anyone. But it’s just not a good start, is it?” she revealed.

“The house is so old that whoever wanted to buy it had to renovate it.

“There’s only one neighbor on our side and he had a lot of reasons why he didn’t want us to continue, but it ended up being a bit silly. It has already been a very long journey and there will be even more pressure once the builders start work.”

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