#EXCLUSIVE #UFC #fighters #fury #absolutely #stupid #council #orders #demolish #luxury #holiday #cabins #garden #neighbours #complained
- EXCLUSIVE: John Phillips said the ‘future of his family’ depended on the huts
- He says the cabins are good for tourism but neighbours have complained
- Mr Phillips is fighting Swansea Council but faces an appeal to keep them open
A UFC prizefighter has blasted his ‘absolutely stupid’ local council after it demanded he demolish four luxury holiday cabins built in his garden.
British MMA champ John Phillips, 38, constructed the huts – complete with hot tubs – on land he owns on the beautiful Gower peninsula in South Wales.
The fighter wanted the cabins, listed on AirBnB for £200-a-night, to bring in a steady income once he hung up his gloves and retired from the ring.
But neighbours complained they brought too much traffic to the remote community and Mr Phillips quickly found himself embroiled in a fierce planning war with Swansea Council.
Unlike his battle in the octagon, this is a fight he is set to lose as council chiefs have demanded all four are raised to the ground.
The fighter told MailOnline: ‘It baffles me, it’s absolutely stupid. Who are we hurting? I just hope it gets sorted out because my family’s future depends on it.’
![The luxury £200-a-night chalets constructed by MMA star John Phillips on land he owns on the Gower peninsula, South Wales](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/10/78600245-12860173-However_the_luxury_200_a_night_chalets_were_constructed_without_-m-3_1702549947374.jpg)
The luxury £200-a-night chalets constructed by MMA star John Phillips on land he owns on the Gower peninsula, South Wales
![Despite his objections, Mr Phillips has been ordered to demolish the huts - a decision he has blasted as 'absolutely stupid'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/09/78600263-12860173-A_father_who_built_four_luxury_holiday_cabins_complete_with_hot_-a-20_1702544498002.jpg)
Despite his objections, Mr Phillips has been ordered to demolish the huts – a decision he has blasted as ‘absolutely stupid’
![MMA fighter John Phillips has fought in the US in the UFC and goes by the nickname The Welsh Wrecking Machine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/78952175-12860173-image-a-7_1702544348767.jpg)
MMA fighter John Phillips has fought in the US in the UFC and goes by the nickname The Welsh Wrecking Machine
![Mr Phillips, pictured with girlfriend Kerrie Garrett and their two-year-old daughter Darcy-Mae, says the chalets are a commercial enterprise set up to provide for his family](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/09/78600259-12860173-Mr_Phillips_and_his_partner_Kerrie_Garrett_saw_the_chalets_as_a_-a-18_1702544493612.jpg)
Mr Phillips, pictured with girlfriend Kerrie Garrett and their two-year-old daughter Darcy-Mae, says the chalets are a commercial enterprise set up to provide for his family
Casting an eye on life after the ring, Mr Phillips ploughed every penny he has into his rural property overlooking the Loughor Estuary.
The home, called Brandy House, came with a generous plot of land and he could see the potential of creating a ‘get away from it all’ holiday destination and built four small chalets in 2021.
The huts were a hit and after advertising on Air B&B, Booking.com and Facebook he soon had 90 per cent occupancy all year round.
Mr Phillips believes the four chalets are an asset to the tourist industry on the Gower, contribute to the local economy and provide the type of eco-friendly accommodation that the local authority should be encouraging.
He also claims he had the backing of the council to build the chalets but planning chiefs deny working on the project with the landowner.
They also refute claims that they visited him on site on numerous occasions.
Mr Phillips, who lives with girlfriend Kerrie Garrett and their two-year-old daughter Darcy-Mae, said: ‘Both Kerrie and I come from council estates, we are not from wealthy families where everything comes easy.
‘We put everything we had and more into this investment, literally our life savings.
‘I sold my share in a successful business, sold cars, took out loans – we’ve worked all our life to get to this point.
‘My fighting career is coming to an end, Kerrie has quit her job as a teaching assistant to be at home with Darcie – the idea was to be able to spend more time together as a family.’
Swansea Council stepped in after receiving a complaint from a neighbour and father-of-one Mr Phillips was told to apply for planning permission retrospectively.
He did, and it was turned down in July after 12 locals objected to the application for the chalets in the hamlet of Landimore.
While just two people supported it.
![Mr Phillips said he did not believe the buildings (pictured) needed planning permission because of their size when he initially built them](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/09/78600265-12860173-Mr_Phillips_said_he_did_not_believe_the_buildings_needed_plannin-a-14_1702544481151.jpg)
Mr Phillips said he did not believe the buildings (pictured) needed planning permission because of their size when he initially built them
![The fighter argued the cabins (pictured) would attract visitors to the area all year round and boost the economy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/10/78600255-12860173-He_argued_the_cabins_would_attract_visitors_to_the_area_all_year-m-2_1702549827825.jpg)
The fighter argued the cabins (pictured) would attract visitors to the area all year round and boost the economy
![The chalets (pictured) are made up of a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, balcony and hot tub and each come with a parking space close to the Wales Coastal Path](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/78600275-12860173-The_chalets_are_made_up_of_a_bedroom_bathroom_kitchen_pull_out_s-a-4_1702544326471.jpg)
The chalets (pictured) are made up of a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, balcony and hot tub and each come with a parking space close to the Wales Coastal Path
![John Phillips, his partner Kerrie Garret and their daughter Darcy-Mae, during construction of the chalets](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/78600247-12860173-Owner_John_Phillips_his_partner_Kerrie_Garret_and_their_daughter-a-6_1702544331661.jpg)
John Phillips, his partner Kerrie Garret and their daughter Darcy-Mae, during construction of the chalets
![The UFC star believes the four chalets are an asset to the tourist industry on the Gower](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/09/78952173-12860173-image-a-8_1702544452098.jpg)
The UFC star believes the four chalets are an asset to the tourist industry on the Gower
Council officers took enforcement action on eight grounds, including the absence of flood and ecology reports, and potential damage to the roots of trees at the rear of the cabins.
The notice said the development relied on the use of cars because there was poor public transport and that increased car usage on a narrow access road had a negative impact on highway and pedestrian safety.
An enforcement notice last month ordered Mr Phillips to demolish the cabins, dig out the septic tank serving them, and reinstate the land to what it was previously.
The fighter said council officers were aware the chalets were being built but he wasn’t told he needed planning permission for the four units.
He said: ‘We had the council out numerous times while we were building, there was never anything negative and no one told us to stop.
‘We followed building regulations all the way through, I have council correspondence.
‘Then all of a sudden, after we’d completed. They wanted us to put in for retrospective planning permission which was turned down.’
Mr Phillips said he is now appealing the decision and it is ‘soul destroying’ to think that the chalets could be bulldozed along with his family’s future.
He said: ‘One of the council’s arguments is that there is no need for chalets on the Gower but if that was the case why do we have 90 per cent occupancy?
‘The Gower is well off for caravan and camping sites but there are very few holiday lets like ours.
‘It baffles me, it’s absolutely stupid. Who are we hurting? I just hope it gets sorted out because my family’s future depends on it.’
![The luxury chalets come complete with a decking area and hot tub for guests to enjoy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/09/78600249-12860173-Mr_Phillips_said_that_this_part_of_Swansea_means_a_lot_to_him_an-a-16_1702544489834.jpg)
The luxury chalets come complete with a decking area and hot tub for guests to enjoy
![The cabins in the hamlet of Landimore (pictured), about 13 miles east of Swansea, faced objections from neighbours and even the National Trust](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/78600279-12860173-The_cabins_in_the_hamlet_of_Landimore_pictured_about_13_miles_ea-a-2_1702544322560.jpg)
The cabins in the hamlet of Landimore (pictured), about 13 miles east of Swansea, faced objections from neighbours and even the National Trust
![The professional MMA fighter (left, fighting in the UFC) has vowed he won't go down without a fight against Swansea Council](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/09/78952181-12860173-image-a-21_1702544505464.jpg)
The professional MMA fighter (left, fighting in the UFC) has vowed he won’t go down without a fight against Swansea Council
Swansea Council said it was first made aware of the development following a complaint to its planning department.
A statement said: ‘During a follow-up call with the landowner we advised that the continuation of the development should cease while a planning application is submitted.
‘However, we understand development continued against our advice.
‘At no time did the council give the impression that the planning application would be approved and in fact, the applicant was advised that the application was likely to be refused in follow-up correspondence.’
The Welsh Government confirmed the planning inspectorate had received Mr Phillips’ appeal and a hearing will be held next year.