Dorset council lets company director keep golf simulator shed he built with wrong measurements on planning application

From the Newshound archive · first published 10 October 2026.

Pete Bransky, 51, a printing business director, has won planning permission to keep a soundproofed golf simulator cabin at the bottom of his garden in Highcliffe, Dorset, after neighbours accused him of submitting plans with a false height measurement. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council approved the structure despite Bransky initially declaring it was just under the 2.5m permitted development limit, when neighbours used a laser device to show it stood closer to 4m including its glass canopy. The council said it wanted to take a 'positive and proactive approach focused on solutions'.

Bransky's 23ft-wide, 13.5ft-long cabin has acoustic panels, soundproof carpet and a quad-layered pro golf impact screen.

Neighbours also warned the structure posed a fire hazard near boundary fences and could damage the roots of protected trees.

One neighbour fumed: 'It is obviously very good news if you want to build anything you like — you can obviously make it up as you go along.'