FORMER Porlock fireman Matt Keal is fighting Exmoor planning regulations to try to keep a home for himself and his family in the village where he was born.

Mr Keal, who retired after 16 years as a crew commander in Porlock Fire Station, was given planning permission six years ago for a self-build timber-framed house in Hawkcombe, Porlock.

It was the only way he could afford to stay in the village, where his parents still live, because the price of land and existing properties was too high.

He also could not afford to build a conventional house with bricks and mortar for his wife Kelly, who works at Porlock Primary School, and their two children Ethan and Mia.

The national park authority approved the plans, subject to the use of red cedar timber cladding for the walls.

However, it took two years for Mr and Mrs Keal to build the frame and put a roof on their house - and then the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

By the time they were able to order the timber cladding, prices at building merchants had doubled.

They had also seen how salty sea air in the valley and the sun’s ultraviolet rays were affecting the house and neighbouring properties, causing them to fit stainless steel door furniture and hard wood windows which were also much more expensive than planned.

So, they opted instead for Cedral cement board cladding because it was more affordable, had a 50-year lifespan, would better withstand the sea air and sun, required less maintenance, was 100 per cent recyclable – and looked like timber.

Cedral also offered better fire protection than timber, which because of the Grenfell tower fire in London, was a factor in their decision, they said.

Mr Keal said: “We have young children in the house and as a crew commander for 16 years in the fire service I have seen some horrific fires where timber is involved.”

However, national park planners served an enforcement notice on the couple for breaching the conditions of their planning consent, ordering them to go back to the originally approved timber cladding.

Now, more than 20 neighbours and villagers have written to the park authority calling on the planners to approve the use of Cedral, while two neighbours have formally objected.

Porlock Parish Council also supported the choice of Cedral, although councillors expressed concern it might change colour as it aged.

Mr Keal said: “We are determined to complete this house with our own hands for our young family to live in for the rest of our lives, giving us a sense of self-pride and the huge bonus of saving money, which we did not and do not have readily available, which is the reason we have never been able to purchase in our village.

“This project is a locally-affordable home and we simply cannot afford timber cladding and the issues and ongoing maintenance that timber cladding requires.”

As part of winning planning permission for the development, the family signed a section 106 legal agreement to keep the new house within the Porlock community and prevent it ever being used as a holiday rental or second home.