Tai Tapu castle gets green light | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Electronics legend Dennis Chapman has been given the green light to build a huge castle-style home.

Plans for the 1111.9 sq m solar powered fortress in Tai Tapu show two floors above ground and a large basement.

The design includes enough parking for 10 cars and a tractor, four bedrooms, a great hall or medieval room, a trap door, a cinema, a spiral staircase to the rooftop, arrow and gun ports, and double medieval-style doors at the entrance.

The Christchurch multimillionaire claimed the title of Master Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000 with his electronic designs, which included an FM radio-telephone.

Switchtec Power Systems was Mr Chapman’s first business adventure, which he co-established in 1985 and sold as a $100m company 13 years later. Currently he is research and design director at Enatel Ltd, a company that he established in 2002.

Motorsport racing has also played a large part in Mr Chapman’s family life, with his wife Debbie and four children.

The controversial neo-gothic home was granted consent last Monday after mediation between the Selwyn District Council and residents opposing it.

Residents, who did not wish to comment on the decision, had been concerned about the intrusiveness of such a large property on their view.

As a result, a detailed planting schedule sets out the number and type of trees to be planted in each part of the property so that they will provide a screen around the property.

Mr Chapman was unavailable for comment.