Fische can stay

Mr Prescott agreed with planning inspector Roger Priestley's report that the controversial houseboat could stay, following the inquiry earlier this year at Adur Civic Centre, Shoreham.

Polly Cole, who owns the 150ft Fische with her husband Fred, said she was delighted at the news.

She celebrated her 52nd birthday on Sunday and told the Herald: "This could not have been a better birthday present. We just want to crack on and get the floors in now."

Mr Priestley ruled that the Fische was situated within its mooring and did not go over into the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds nature reserve behind the mooring, as had previously been claimed.

Mr Prescott agreed with Mr Priestley's conclusions that as the site was a houseboat mooring, no planning control had been breached and the Coles' appeal against Adur District Council should be successful.

A letter from the Deputy Prime Minister's office states: "In respect of the replacement of the Lunasea with the Fische and your clients' argument that no development requiring planning permission had taken place, the inspector concludes that, on the evidence, installing the houseboat onto its mooring did not involve any building or engineering operation.

"The Secretary of State has carefully considered that inspector's reasoning and agrees with him that no evidence has been produced to show that, in towing the vessel to the site, positioning it and mooring it to the bank, any material or physical change to the land has been brought about."

He also agreed that to dismiss the Coles' appeal would have gone against their right to a home and private family life under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The inspector's report did concede that the ramp and jetty went against certain aspects of the local plan, but recognised that a ramp was needed to get onto the Fische.

The inspector agreed that revised plans for the ramp and jetty should be produced.

The Fische was first brought onto Shoreham Beach in June, 2003, but its size soon sparked complaints from residents in River Close.

The planning inquiry earlier this year was brought about after Mr and Mrs Cole appealed against an enforcement notice from Adur council and a revocation order to remove planning permission for the Fische.

Last month, the former German minesweeper won an award from the Brighton Festival Fringe for an exhibition on the history of Shoreham Beach's houseboat community.

Mrs Cole said her son Toby was launching a website today '“ wwwshorehamhouseboats.co.uk '“ on the houseboat community.

A spokesman for Adur District Council said they would comment once they had read the inspector's report in full.