Man ordered to pay £25k over illegally built home in North Yorkshire
He failed to get planning permission before building
Last updated 25th Feb 2026
A man has been ordered to pay over £25,000 or face prison after he built his own home near Northallerton without planning permission.
34-year-old Liam Snowden bought land and converted a former agricultural building at East Field Barn, Deighton, into his home.
He failed to comply with an enforcement notice issued in 2020 by Hambleton District Council.
Snowden made two applications for planning permission after building the house, but they were both refused.
The sentence
He pleaded not guilty at York Crown Court but was convicted after a four-day trial.
He has been fined £1,000, ordered to pay costs of £25,029 and a court surcharge of £100 within three months or face 30 days in prison.
"it is important that taxpayers’ money is recovered"
Cllr Heather Phillips, executive member for corporate services, said it was important the council was able to recover the money involved in the prosecution: “The costs in this case were substantial and while this should not be the main consideration when deciding whether to progress with proceedings it is important that taxpayers’ money is recovered where possible."