Jane Coyle, 64, and her husband Anthony, 67, have been living in their garden shed for the past four years, unable to build their £370,000 dream eco-home in Edwyn Ralph, Herefordshire. Their plans, submitted in 2020 to construct a sustainable three-bedroom house on woodland land they purchased for £120,000, were stalled due to the ‘Lugg Moratorium’—a building freeze imposed because of dangerously high phosphate levels in the nearby River Lugg.
Despite selling their six-bedroom farmhouse in Ross-on-Wye to fund the project, Jane and Anthony have been forced to live in a cramped 6m by 3m garden shed after planning permission was delayed and only granted in 2025. Prior to that, they lived in a static caravan but moved into the insulated shed in 2022 for better shelter and installed a log burner, shower, and kitchen area. Their children visiting have had to camp outside since the family home remains unbuilt.
This ban on development is part of the largest environmental legal case in UK history. The couple are among 4,500 claimants suing poultry companies and Welsh Water for contributing to severe river pollution that has prevented around 2,000 new homes from being built under the phosphate restrictions. While chicken farms are said to produce 66% of the nutrient pollution, new housing is responsible for less than 1%.
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Jane expresses frustration at the unfairness: “We bought the land from someone who had permission to build but were never told about this moratorium. If we had been just a few fields away, we could have built. We feel let down, like our lives are on hold.” The couple have also incurred thousands in “phosphate credits” needed to offset their impact before starting construction, alongside unplanned costs due to prolonged delays.
Health issues and the lingering restrictions have left their site untidy, requiring costly professional builders to take over work they initially intended to do themselves. “We’re now looking at £400,000 to £500,000 in construction fees, when we budgeted far less,” Jane added.
Lawyers from Leigh Day emphasize the claim’s significance, alleging that pollution from poultry waste and sewage runoff has caused algal blooms, fish deaths, and stinky waterways, damaging local tourism and property values. The defendants deny responsibility, citing lack of scientific evidence linking them to the contamination and highlighting regulations they follow.
Welsh Water noted their investment of £70 million over five years to improve water quality but emphasized that pollution from other sectors has increased, limiting their progress.
As legal proceedings continue, the Coyles hope a resolution will allow them to finally build their forever home and move out of the shed where life has been unexpectedly paused for half a decade.