In 2018, the Coyles bought a plot in the village of Edwyn Ralph which had planning permission for a 5-bed bungalow.
They reapplied to build a 3-bed home using sustainable wood, air source heating and solar panels, but the restrictions on building kept delaying their case.
They were granted permission in 2025, but the delay has cost them tens of thousands of pounds extra in legal fees, phosphate credits and building materials.
“Our daughters have to rent accommodation when they come to visit us and Tony has had serious health issues which are really concerning,” said Jane Coyle.
“We lived near the Wye for 20 years, and saw it deteriorate, but we didn’t imagine that river pollution would affect us so much.”
“I studied agriculture, and we’ve always lived in the countryside, waterways are really important to us.”
The couple are among 4,500 people who have added their names to a legal case which claims industrial scale chicken farming and sewage spills are causing pollution in the rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk.
The case against Avara, Freemans of Newent, and Welsh Water starts at the High Court in London tomorrow – all three firms vigorously deny the claims.