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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tom Campbell & Connor Gormley

Man has '£50,000 knocked off house price' after new toilet block covers sea view

A pensioner has had £50,000 knocked off his luxury seafront property after the council built a toilet block on the beach opposite his house.

James Johnston, 87, has been forced to drastically lower the price of his apartment on The Esplanade Grande in Bognor Regis due to the eyesore.

Mr Johnston's balcony looked over the foreshore office and seashore when he bought the property over a decade ago.

But the foreshore office was replaced by a plastic toilet block in 2018, which Mr Johnston is reminded of every time he looks out his living room window.

Mr Johnston said: "It's ridiculous.

"You knew the foreshore office was there, but at least it fits in with everything else.

The blue and grey unit was built by Arun District Council (SWNS)

"The toilets don't match anything. It's a horrible building."

The blue and grey unit was built by Arun District Council, who says members of the public had every chance to voice their concerns.

A council spokesperson said: "These essential public facilities have been constructed in full compliance with the planning consent granted."

The toilet block opposite James Johnston's home (SWNS)

But Mr Johnston, who objected to the block being built along with other residents in the complex, is now struggling to sell his property.

He said: "Henry Adams - the estate agents, first put the flat up for £400,000.

"They've now asked me to bring it down to £350,000. That's a £50,000 difference."

Despite 18 viewings, Mr Johnston's flat has proven almost impossible to sell, with every potential buyer being put off by the bogs.

Mr Johnston's flat has proven almost impossible to sell (SWNS)

Estate agent Gail Chisham said: "We just cannot sell it. We had two viewings over the weekend, and they love the flat.

"They love everything about it, it's a luxury apartment.

"But then they get to the sitting room and say 'I couldn't live here'.

"It feels like no matter what the price is, I just don't think we will find a buyer."

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