Couple who turned Grade II listed building into a Buddhist temple are accused of making it ‘look like a Co-Op’ after they painted it BLUE without getting planning permission
- Kaspa Thomson and wife Satya Robyn bought listed building for their charity
- They took seven years turning it into the Bright Earth Buddhist Temple
- It was originally painted cream with dark red trim when it was first built in 1820
- They spent £6,500 re-rendering and repainting parts of building turquoise blue
- But decoration sparked local anger because couple had not been given permission to change the Grade II listed structure’s exterior
A Buddhist couple received instant karma from their neighbours who accused them of making a Grade II listed building ‘look like a Co-op’ after they painted it turquoise blue.
The Bright Earth Buddhist Temple was given the dramatic makeover earlier this year but the charitable trust which runs it failed to seek planning permission.
The iconic Grade II listed property in Malven, Worcestershire, was originally painted cream with dark red trim when it was first built as a guest house in 1820.
It was bought by a charity and run by Kaspa Thomson, 40, and his wife Satya Robyn, 46, in 2014 who have spent the last seven years converting it into a Buddhist temple.
Kaspa Thomson, 40, sparked local fury by repainting the outside of Bright Earth Buddhist Temple in Malvern, Worcs, in turquoise blue despite not having planning permission
The trustees spent £6,500 re-rendering and repainting the front of the building in March.
But locals expressed fury after the original fascia and decorative band around the building were changed to turquoise to reflect the Buddhist faith.
With any property that is grade-listed, you need listed building consent to make alterations to both the exterior and the interior of the building.
One resident fumed: ‘The new paint job looks awful and is not in keeping with the area.
‘You can see the bright blue roof looming up at you as you drive past the building and at first I thought they’d opened up a new Co-op.
The iconic Grade II listed property in Malven, Worcestershire, was originally painted cream with dark red trim when it was first built as a guest house in 1820. Kaspa and his wife Satya spent £6,500 re-rendering and repainting the front of the building, including changing the red for turquoise blue
‘The building is in the historic area of Malvern with stunning views so it attracts a lot of visitors but I have to say the new paint job makes it look cheap and tacky.’
Another resident said: ‘Whilst I appreciate the application is from a Buddhist temple and turquoise is a colour they use, I feel the turquoise colour is not at all in keeping with the surrounding buildings in the road.
‘It is far too bright and gives a rather garish appearance to the building.
‘All other buildings and shop are painted in much more subdued colours which partly reflect how the buildings would have been when originally constructed.
‘I’d like to see this maintained in the appearance of all the buildings, regardless of their purpose.’
Council planners will decide next month on whether the blue makeover can stay or must be repainted red
The Buddhists who run the temple have submitted a retrospective planning application with Malvern Hills Council.
In the application, they said: ‘In Buddhist colour theory turquoise represents awakening and wisdom.
‘For this community – where there is a strong impulse for taking care of the earth – the blue also stands in for the predominant colour of the earth as seen from space.
‘The proposed works will restore the integrity of the render and restore the appearance of the front of the building into a good condition.
‘The new highlight colour is an attractive highlight to the existing building and does not detract from any special interest of the site.’
Council planners will decide next month on whether the blue makeover can stay or must be repainted red.
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