A MILLIONAIRE family created a 60-acre pirate-themed Caribbean island in a Cambridgeshire village - complete with Georgian style buildings, beach and guest house.
But the owners have been forced to apply for retrospective planning permission to keep the buildings on the oasis.
Relatives of the late John Dickerson, who owned the waste recycling company Donarbon, have applied to South Cambs District Council to retain what agents described as “recreational structures”.
The island, known as Challis Island, is built on a former quarry on the family’s estate in Landbeach. It includes a pub, guest house, beach, lagoon and boat dock.
The land is still owned by Mr Dickerson’s widow and is maintained by his grandson James Challis, who lives in Sutton.
Agents acting for the family told the council: “The recreational structures that have now been placed on the island have been designed to depict an abandoned 18th century colonial island with a number of surviving, but run-down, Georgian-style colonial buildings and structures as features on the island.
“To provide this atmospheric and theatrical theme the buildings are of a bespoke design, all specifically designed and built for this purpose and effect.
“The units have been designed and built solely for private recreational purposes and are not intended to be used for full-time habitation.”
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