Darren, Deanne Jolly controversy: Irymple Ave, Kew East residents angry over demolition

REALITY renovators Darren and Deanne Jolly are again causing controversy on a real life block in Kew East.

Deanne and Darren Jolly for The Block Glasshouse for SWITCHED ON USE ONLY July 23 2014.

REALITY renovators Darren and Deanne Jolly are again causing controversy on a real life block in Kew East.

Residents of Irymple Ave are furious the footballer and his outspoken wife have completely demolished a heritage-protected Californian bungalow house in blue chip suburb.

Debbie McColl-Davis, who has lived in the quiet street for more than 40 years, said the Jollys had never lived in the neighbourhood but had brought the rundown house to do it up and make a few quick dollars.

Debbie McColl-Davis said residents were horrified to see the Jollys had “thumbed their noses” at their neighbours by demolishing the house. She is pictured with Ken Duxbury and other concerned neighbours. Picture: Nicole Cleary

She said the residents were horrified to see that the Jollys had “thumbed their noses” at their neighbours by demolishing the house rather than restoring it to its former glory.

“I accept that this particular property required some TLC and I know that we cannot to expect live in a museum,” she said.

“But when you have a heritage overlay, houses are cheaper because people who buy them understand that there are restrictions on what they can do to these properties.

“The Jollys have thumbed their noses at the local community with what they have done. This is not a renovation it’s a complete demolition job.

“We are angry and frustrated by what has happened.”

Deanne said the neighbours had “got the wrong end of the stick” over what they were doing with the site.

She said any further questions would need to be directed to her agent, Sean Anderson.

Mr Anderson explained the Jollys had permission to demolish 95 per cent of the house but elected to take it all down when Mr Jolly discovered extensive rot and termite damage.

Providing a copy of a letter Mr Jolly had written to the council to explain his actions, the footballer turned builder said leaving the remaining structure standing in windy conditions would’ve put neighbours at risk.

Boroondara council’s acting planning director Zoran Jovanovski said the Jollys had been granted permission to partially demolish the building and bulldozing the entire house was in breach of the permit that it had issued.

“There has clearly been a breach of the planning permit that was issued,” he said.