Mary Kenny, an 82-year-old pensioner from Deal, Kent, has been ordered by Dover District Council to repaint her cobalt blue house after just one complaint, according to multiple reports. The council considered the color "unsympathetic" to the Middle Street conservation area and instructed her to repaint it in white or pale cream, as reported. Kenny reportedly spent over £3,000 on the paint job in 2023, and the unexpected order means additional expenses for the pensioner.
A council spokesman explained that while exterior repainting usually does not require planning permission, it does in Kenny's case because her property is situated in a designated conservation area. The council first contacted Kenny in 2024 following a complaint, according to reports. The spokesman stated that the council initially advised her to repaint voluntarily, but after no action was taken, formal enforcement proceedings were initiated.
Kenny has defended her color choice, noting that the vibrant blue replaced a previously shabby exterior and pointing out that Deal is home to many colorful properties, including the bright blue Alma pub just a few doors away, according to interviews with Metro. She claimed that numerous neighbors have complimented the cobalt blue house, with some saying it brightens the area. Kenny is now planning to appeal the enforcement notice, as reported, insisting that the council's action is disproportionate given the inconsistent approach to other buildings.
The formal enforcement notice states that the exterior painting, due to its inappropriate color, resulted in a visually unsympathetic development, according to documents seen by local media. According to reports, Kenny has been given six months to comply and has already started repainting the property white, although she remains committed to her appeal. Why only one complaint triggered such stringent enforcement remains unanswered. The total cost of reversing the paint job, including scaffolding, has not been revealed, but Kenny previously mentioned that scaffolding alone cost over £1,000 during the initial work. The outcome of her appeal is still uncertain, and it is unclear whether other properties in the conservation area with similar bold colors will face similar action.