A couple has been residing in a small garden shed for the past four years due to challenges with building their new permanent residence, caused by strict regulations on river pollution and escalating expenses. Jane Coyle, 64, and her spouse, Anthony Coyle, 67, had proposed constructing a three-bedroom eco-house in Edwyn Ralph to Herefordshire County Council in 2020. However, their plans were thwarted by an obscure planning rule called the ‘Lugg Moratorium,’ even though the location was 12 miles away from the river.
Ms. Coyle mentioned that she recalled a local individual in a similar situation predicting a potential seven-year wait for building approval, a statement she initially dismissed but later found to be somewhat accurate. The couple initially moved into a caravan on the property, encouraged by a planning officer who assured them the ban would be lifted swiftly. However, after two years in the caravan, the couple, feeling overwhelmed, downsized their dream of a 250 sq m eco-home in the woods to a modest 19ft by 9ft garden shed for the time being.
Their previous residence was a lavish six-bedroom farmhouse in Ross-on-Rye, Herefordshire, which they sold in 2018. They invested a substantial £120,000 in the land for their new dwelling and allocated an additional £250,000 for construction costs, totaling over £350,000. Mrs. Coyle mentioned that her husband’s poor health prevented them from executing their plans as intended five years earlier.
To complete the construction project, the couple now faces expenses ranging from £400,000 to £500,000 for a professional builder. Mrs. Coyle expressed frustration, stating, “We have been forced to reside in our shed due to circumstances beyond our control.” She added, “It is baffling that just a short distance away, approval for building has been granted regularly for residences.”
After a long wait, planning permission was eventually granted in July 2025 for their new home and garage, following their acquisition of ‘phosphate credits’ to offset the development’s impact by supporting a wetlands initiative. Despite this progress, the Coyle’s still need to settle a substantial £7,000 credit bill before commencing construction.
The couple has joined a significant environmental lawsuit involving about 4,000 impacted individuals due to river pollution. Legal firm Leigh Day has initiated legal action against poultry producer Avara Foods Limited, its subsidiary Freemans of Newent Limited, and utility firm Welsh Water. The lawsuit alleges a disproportionate impact, with chicken farms contributing 66 percent of nutrient pollution in the river, while new residences account for less than one percent.
Ms. Coyle criticized the prevalence of chicken farms along the Herefordshire-Welsh border, highlighting the continuous expansion of these farms leading to increased pollution from chicken waste being spread in the surrounding areas. She emphasized that new homes are a minor part of the pollution issue and that they seek compensation for their ordeal through legal action alongside numerous claimants across the Lugg, Wye, and Usk rivers.
A spokesperson from Avara Foods stated that they have taken significant steps to enhance river health and indicated a lack of direct scientific evidence linking their operations to pollution. The ongoing lawsuit involving thousands of claimants is considered one of the most extensive environmental legal battles in British history.
