EXCLUSIVEMan slammed by neighbours for giving £425k newbuild a 'pathetic' name and paving over garden for a driveway in a 'ugly' garden transformation
You might think a property called Honeysuckle Lodge would have a rambling garden with lawns, roses, a clematis and at least some honeysuckle.
But newly-built Honeysuckle Lodge in Cwmbran, South Wales, has just a brown, shiny new driveway and neighbours are already sick of the sight of it.
They are also baffled why the house was built so close to the neighbouring property that the owner had to reposition his front door.
Locals went onto X, formerly Twitter, to poke fun at the home which was put on the market for £450,000 but has had £25,000 chopped off the asking price.
One neighbour borrowed the words of Canadian singer Joni Mitchell's 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi - 'they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.'
Newly-built Honeysuckle Lodge in Cwmbran, South Wales, has just an ugly, brown, shiny driveway and neighbours are already sick of the sight of it
The piece of waste ground used to be a car park for a local taxi firm (left) before it was transformed with a new paving job (right)
Ironically the piece of waste ground used to be a car park for a local taxi firm so when landowner Pablo Scarfi put the plot up for sale locals hoped it would be turned into something visually attractive.
It was bought by property developer Mark Robinson who spent the last three years building the four-bedroom property with three en-suites.
Ex hotelier and rugby player Mr Scarfi, 76, who lives next door, said: 'I think he's made a mistake with the front - it's not a nice colour and it has a wet-look effect. It always looks like it's just poured down with rain.
'I know other people around here don't like it but anyone with a complaint had plenty of time to do so through the proper channels.
'But it used to be just rubble and used by a taxi company to park their cars so it's a lot better now.'
Father-of-three Mr Scarfi struck a deal with the paving company so the front of his house is also covered with the coffee-coloured paving slabs.
He said: 'I didn't realise that was the colour, it's not what I would have chosen but it's too late now.'
Ironically the piece of waste ground used to be a car park for a local taxi firm
Inside, the newbuild is equipped with shiny new modern fixtures and fittings
In one of the rooms the owner has opted for a garish chessboard flooring design
Instead of being built in the middle of the plot the new house went up so close to Mr Scarfi's property he had to have his front door repositioned - paid for by the developer.
He added: 'I sold the plot with planning permission - there were a few modifications afterwards. I didn't say no to them, perhaps I should have.
'And the name of the house is pathetic - it's not a lodge and there's no honeysuckle here. It should have a number like the rest of the houses in the street.'
Passer-by Ieuan Williams, 51, of Cwmbran said: 'It's ugly, it's a horrible colour and there's no boundary wall so it's really in your face.
'We all like to see a bit of greenery - but this brownery and to call it Honeysuckle Lodge is taking the Mickey.'
Estate agent Peter Alan describe the house as 'stunning' and highlight the brown slabs covering the entire front of the property as a special feature.
Their advertisement says: 'To the front of the property is a low maintenance imprinted concrete driveway with ample parking for a caravan and several cars.'
Retired special needs teacher and mother-of-four Kath Dennehy who lives opposite said: 'I just don't like it, I don't think many people do.
'It's been up for sale for a while and I don't think they've had a viewing so they've knocked the price down.'
