PLANNING permission has been given for a new house to be built on the Exmoor site of one which was destroyed nearly four years ago by an explosion which killed former Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism chief Malcolm Baker.

The remains of Hiccombe House, in Hartford, near Brompton Regis, were later demolished, leaving just a pile of rubble.

Now, Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) has approved plans by Mr Baker’s partner Francesca Onody to self-build a five-bedroom, two-storey, timber frame house which will have a smaller footprint than the original property.

Planning officer Yvonne Dale said the massing and materials of the replacement house together with any impact on the character and appearance of the area were all considered to be acceptable.

Ms Dale said 11 letters in support of the application had been received by the authority along with four which carried a range of comments about the plans.

The remains of Malcolm Baker's Exmoor home.
The remains of Hiccombe House, near Brompton Regis, before the property was demolished, (Avon and Somerset Police)

Among the concerns was how long a self-build project would take, and that caravans in which the family had been living for the past four years should be removed in no more than another 12 months.

There was also concern that Hiccombe House had been described in the application as ‘exceptionally piecemeal and ugly’, when it was actually considered to be an example of ‘a lovely old Exmoor house’ when viewed from the road.

The worry was that a ‘potentially ugly house’ could be allowed as a replacement if the old one was accepted to be ugly.

Others felt ENPA should be flexible and understanding and do what was ‘morally right’ to help the family rebuild their home and their lives, fearing it would be a ‘fresh tragedy’ if they were denied.

Ms Dale imposed a planning condition requiring the caravans to be removed once the new property was substantially complete, or within six years, whichever was sooner.