A father is still refusing to luxury cabins with hot tubs he built without planning permission four years ago in a long-running battle with his local council.
John Phillips built the four pods, which overlook the Wales Coast Path and Loughor Estuary, in 2022, despite not having the correct planning permission.
And even though Swansea Council turned down his retrospective planning application and issued him an enforcement notice, the 42-year-old is continuing to advertise the cabins for £195 a night.
Mr Phillips and his partner, Kerrie Garrett, saw the chalets as a chance to 'cash in' on the beauty of the surrounding area and provide for their daughter, Darcy-Mae.
Furious locals previously claimed the chalets are a 'blot on the landscape' of Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and should not have been built.
The cabins in the hamlet of Landimore, about 13 miles east of Swansea, faced objections from neighbours and even the National Trust - before planning officials ruled they detracted from the Landimore Conservation Area and Gower AONB.
His retrospective planning application was rejected in July 2023, and the enforcement notice issued four months later told him to stop renting the cabins out and demolish them within six months.
Mr Phillips then appealed the refusal decision and the enforcement notice, but now a government-appointed planning inspector has dismissed both appeals.
John Phillips built the four pods, which overlook the Wales Coast Path and Loughor Estuary, in 2022, despite not having the correct planning permission.
And even though Swansea Council turned down his retrospective planning application and issued him an enforcement notice, the 42-year-old is continuing to advertise the cabins for £195 a night
The demolition deadline of 31 October 2025 followed a requirement for him to stop using the cabins by November 30, 2024.
However, Mr Philips continued to advertise the stays and declined to comment when approached.
Swansea Council said it was 'considering its next steps' but said it could take legal action if enforcement action continues to be ignored.
The council said: 'Mr Phillips built the chalets without planning permission. Retrospective planning permission was refused by the council. Our position was endorsed by the Welsh planning inspector when Mr Phillips appealed.
'The council is fully aware of the lack of compliance by the resident with the enforcement notice. We are in the process of considering our next steps and this could include legal action through the courts.'
It said the action reflected the importance of protecting the area of natural beauty from unlawful development.
After his unsuccessful appeal, Mr Philips was initially granted 12 months, rather than the original six, to comply with the order to demolish and restore the site.
At the time of the appeal, planning inspector Richard Duggan accepted that more time was needed to cancel bookings at the high-demand chalets.
Speaking previously, Mr Philips said he intended to fight the case in court, calling the order 'madness'.
He said: 'It's really unfair. It's one rule for us and another for everyone else.
'They [the council] have just awarded a house in our village permission to build a ten-room Airbnb.
Mr Philips, who rents out the chalets with his wife Kerrie Garrett and lives on the site, previously said he doesn't know what they will do if they have to bulldoze the holiday homes.
'We won't be able to afford to pay our bills if this happens,' he said.
'It pays our living. It's our full-time job.
'We haven't looked at the price for demolishing it. We are going to fight this every step of the way.'
Furious locals claimed the chalets were a 'blot on the landscape' of Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and should not have been built. Pictured: An aerial view of the four chalets
Mr Philips believed his family are being treated differently because they are not locals, claiming he is the target of a 'hidden vendetta'.
Rejecting the appeal, planning inspector Mr Duggan said the cabin's decking and hot tubs were visible from the coast path.
He said: 'The view from the public footpath, albeit only for approximately 100m, is valuable as part of the experience of walking within the AONB and the development seriously harms that view.'
The four cabins are all still advertised for rent, with the website stating: 'Watch the sunset and sunrise, lose yourself under the night stars as you star gaze until your hearts content.
'All cabins have a private luxury hot tub.'
Several reviews were submitted in the last week from guests who continue to stay there.
One wrote: 'The location was quiet and peaceful, perfect for switching off and relaxing under the stars.
'The views were beautiful, and the private hot tub made it even better. It was great relaxing and enjoying the scenery.
'A fantastic place for a relaxing getaway, and we'd absolutely love to book again. Highly recommended and will definitely be returning soon for another visit.'
But local Gower councillor Richard Lewis said there was 'little local sympathy' for the owners.
He said: 'My view is that the planners did an excellent job. Everything was watertight.'
Mr Lewis said he had been aware of the unauthorised cabin development at an early stage.
'I had so many people knocking on my door saying they were not happy,' he said.
'Why should someone carry on carte blanche?
'Everybody else has to obey the rules. I think there will be very little sympathy from villagers across Gower.'
In response to the latest concerns, Mr Philips said: 'I don't want to make any comment.'
