# Former Adidas director and wife seek £900,000 over oversized barn conversion

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/former-adidas-boss-sues-developer-after-he-is-forced-to-demolish-part-of-new-1-3m-dream-home-in-the-country-because-it-is-two-metres-too-big/
- Published: 2026-10-28T11:39:05+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T11:47:33+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16245375/Former-Adidas-boss-sues-developer-forced-demolish-dream-home.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Art, Culture, Software, Technology, World

## Key points

- The Nixons are suing their barn-conversion developer for £900,000.
- The home exceeded its approved length by about two metres.
- Howard denies knowing the building breached planning limits.

## Summary

Former Adidas managing director Edward Nixon and his wife Sally are suing developer Barry Howard, claiming he misled them about planning compliance during the conversion of a Northamptonshire barn into their £1.3 million home. West Northamptonshire Council later ordered major alterations after finding the building exceeded the approved plans, leaving the couple seeking £900,000 in damages.

The couple say Howard told them in a July 2020 video call that the house was built and planners were satisfied, and answered “no” when asked whether he knew of any planning breach. The finished barn was about two metres longer than permitted and its ridge height was nearly one metre too high; Howard denies knowing it exceeded the limit. The dispute is being heard at Central London County Court, and the article text does not include the outcome.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.