If you’re considering adding a pergola to your garden, you might want to double-check the planning permission rules in your local area. Even if you know the rules, it can be easy to be caught out, as a content creator in Nottingham found out when the council ordered her to take down her pergola.

Belle Rogers from Nottingham, known as @bydesignermum on TikTok and Instagram, has gone viral after revealing that the council has ordered her to take down the wooden pergola in the garden at the back of her house, where she’s lived for 11 years, following an anonymous complaint.

The content creator originally built the pergola in 2021 during COVID as the finishing touch to her patio ideas. This little sanctuary included a stylish dip tank and seating area filled with plants and festoon lights. Typically, pergolas fall under permitted development, meaning you don’t need to apply for planning permission if your structure meets certain criteria. In the case of a pergola, it must cover less than 50% of the garden, and it is below 2.5 metres high (if it’s within 2 metres of a neighbour’s fence). However, the rules differ if you’re dealing with a listed building or live in a conservation area, where restrictions are tighter.

Belle’s beautiful home is a Grade II listed home in a conservation area. When speaking to Ideal Home, Belle admits that despite being pros at renovating older properties, it didn’t occur to either her or her partner to apply for planning permission for the pergola because it wasn’t a permanent enclosed structure.

‘This is our 14th renovation in 10 years, we’ve always renovated older things – an old chapel, old Georgian houses, an old bank – so we’re pretty much always applying for planning. Everything in this house we’ve applied for planning for: the barn conversion, the conservatory round the back. So we do follow the guidance, but I didn’t think that a wooden pergola outside that wasn’t permanent would need planning permission.’

The pergola was first reported in 2022 for being a permanent structure that was attached to the property. To comply with the council guidelines, Belle took the pergola down.

‘I think they were concerned about the attachment to the actual building, which I do actually understand,’ says Belle. ‘I asked what if we put it on wheels, what if it was movable? And they said, well, if it’s movable, then that’s fine.’

‘I have to admit, at first, I was absolutely gutted when the first, you know, when I had to take down the first one; I left it for a year,’ she explains.

In 2025 she decided to take on the challenge of building a moveable pergola and created a new freestanding wooden covering on wheels that was detached from the house.

However, the pergola was reported again. This time the council said that the pergola would need to be taken down by the end of August (2026). In emails seen by Ideal Home, the main reason given for the decision was the similarity between the original pergola and the new one built on wheels, along with maintained objections from the council’s conservation officers that it introduced an ‘intrusive feature’.

When approached for a comment on the ruling, Councillor Andy Freeman, Chair of Planning Committee at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: ‘as with any listed building, homeowners must follow specific rules and regulations, and planning permission is often required for structures of this kind.

‘This is a protected Grade II listed building, and planning permission was not obtained for the work undertaken. Although the structure has now been placed on wheels, this has not removed the harmful impact identified by the Council’s Conservation professionals. The owner has therefore been asked to remove the structure.’

It’s not the outcome Belle hoped for. She told Ideal Home that she’s confused about why the pergola has been targeted, explaining that it’s hidden around the back of the house and is one of several other garden structures, including a greenhouse and a shepherd’s hut built under permitted development. However, these other structures have drawn no complaints or action from the council.

But despite her disappointment, she has maintained a sunny outlook. She plans to find a way to reuse the pergola (watch this space!) She is also already thinking of ways to replace the structure with parasol trees or something similar to create a natural covering over the patio that the council will approve. ‘I emailed the council, and in terms of planting, there are no planning restrictions on what you plant, where it goes, or the height it eventually grows to,’ she explains of her new idea.

Following the experience, Belle’s advice for other homeowners living in a listed building or a conservation area is to always check regulations if they’re hoping to build a pergola. ‘The first thing you need to do is look at what’s allowed. Contact the local council because they are pretty good at responding, and find out what the rules are around non-permanent and permanent structures in your garden.’

There’s a new interiors microtrend doing the rounds this summer, having influenced many of our favourite high street stores. While one could argue that it is a retro trend making a comeback, this trend has its origins in ancient Greece.

I’m talking about Greek chic as the surprising home decor trend taking interior design by storm this year. If you’re a fan of crisp, white hues, marble and sun-washed natural materials, this Mediterranean-inspired trend is one you should get on board with.

I spoke to interior design experts about how to modernise this ancient trend and make our homes look more stylish this season. Here’s what they said.

Why is Greek chic trending?

Perhaps it’s not that surprising. Last year, Greek gardens dominated garden trends, and this year Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey has led to a sudden interest in ancient Greek aesthetics.

Up until now, Mediterranean decor (which has been immensely popular over the past few years) has focused on ‘la dolce vita’, citrus motifs and an overwhelming amount of sardines. Greek chic is stripping this back to its roots.

‘After a summer of bright colour and playful interiors, we’re beginning to crave spaces that feel calmer, cooler and more grounded. There’s almost a sense that we’re in denial that winter is coming, holding onto that Mediterranean feeling for a little longer,’ comments Natalie Evans, founder and CEO of home styling and staging company Little Barn Door.

‘Greek chic taps into that beautifully. It gives us sun-baked colours, tactile surfaces and relaxed, lived-in spaces that feel warm and comforting without being heavy. It’s less about recreating a holiday villa and more about capturing that wonderfully effortless Grecian way of living.

‘Popular culture is also helping to reignite our fascination with the ancient world. With the Odyssey bringing Greek mythology, landscapes and architecture back into workplace conversations. But I think its appeal goes deeper than a single cultural moment. We’re increasingly looking for homes that feel restful rather than overly designed. The earthy colours, raw materials and simplicity of Grecian architecture offer exactly that.’

How to style the Greek chic trend in modern homes

Don’t worry, you don’t have to fully embrace the ancient Greek lifestyle to embrace the trend. So that’s a no to dealing with the Gods and monsters Greek heroes were expected to put up with them thousands of years ago.

‘The good news is you don’t need a villa in Santorini to embrace the look. In a modern home, I’d focus on natural textures like linen, stone and ceramics, alongside a palette of warm whites and sandy neutrals. Even a few sculptural accessories or oversized pottery pieces can capture that Greek-inspired feel without making the space look themed,’ says Victoria Robinson, style and trend expert at Hillarys.

With the Greek Chic aesthetic, the key is to keep your decor as stripped back as possible. You need to let your materials do the talking. Because of this, it’s worth investing in quality materials such as marble vases (£80, Next) or textured ceramics.

‘Paint brands are already leaning heavily into these natural plaster-inspired shades, which makes this one of the easier trends to introduce without completely redecorating. Coat Paints have even introduced a Natural Plaster collection to bring this look into our homes with ease,’ adds Natalie.

‘The secret to getting Greek chic right is influence rather than imitation. You want the warmth, texture and architectural simplicity of a Greek home without making your living room feel like a Mediterranean-themed restaurant.’

Shop the Greek chic trend

Ready to embrace the Greek way of life? I hope I’ve provided you with the best ways to get started.