The proposed design shows the house will feature laser-cut doodles (Image: Hollaway Studios / SWNS)
Artist Mr Doodle, known in real life as Sam Cox, has proposed an eye-catching bungalow in Dungeness, Kent, that mirrors the style of his artwork.
This January, Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) members were compelled to delay green-lighting the proposal amid concerns that the project had not been sufficiently publicised.
For planning proposals, the council is required to display the familiar laminated yellow notices at the site, something that was overlooked on this occasion.
While neighbouring residents had received letters and the plans were advertised in the media, committee chairman Jackie Meade recommended postponing the decision during the meeting, citing the absence of physical notices at the Romney Marsh location.
Subsequently, two new signs were set up flanking the highway near the proposed site.
Computer-generated images showing the house surrounded by a rusted metal exterior which will be laser cut with doodles. (Image: Hollaway Studios / SWNS)
The project envisioned by Mr Cox involves demolishing an existing house to create a remarkable three-bedroom dwelling embellished with railway carriages and his signature laser-cut doodles on its facade. It is once more up for consideration by the planning committee.
Despite facing considerable backlash, with 46 objections submitted via the planning portal, FHDC officers have suggested giving it the thumbs up.
One detractor dismissed the concept as a “vanity project” lacking any genuine artistic merit or “spiritual understanding” of the beach’s unique setting.
Another critic compared the planned development to a “Disneyfication” of Dungeness.
Mr Doodle and his namesake trademark (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
Wildlife enthusiasts voiced their concerns, citing the potential harm to inquisitive animals that might get trapped and injured by the metal artwork, given the land’s designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Additionally, Lydd Town Council lodged an objection, stating that the proposal would “result in loss of character”.
However, architects Hollaway Studios, acting on behalf of Mr Cox, countered that the new home would “embody a thoughtful response to its context”. In response to concerns, supplemental computer-generated images have been made available since January to provide greater clarity on design aspects.
According to the report released ahead of the upcoming Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) meeting, “The applicant has provided additional CGI images, showing the designs of the “doodles” themselves and the materials proposed.”
The report further concludes that “It is not considered the doodles themselves would appear overly large or add clutter to the elevations, to the extent they would detract from the character and appearance of the conservation area or visual amenities of the wider area.”
Locals are concerned about the metal artwork affecting the local wildlife (Image: Hollaway Studios / SWNS)
The famous artist, a former pupil at Homewood School in Tenterden, currently resides in a mansion in St Michaels, where he lives with his wife Alena and their son.
Mr Cox has garnered significant attention for covering the 12-room property, purchased in December 2019, in an array of black-and-white doodles, amassing over 3.2 million followers on .
A decision on the proposal is expected during the FHDC’s planning committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday (March 18).