Listed Buildings Archives

Robbie Williams Granted Permission for Underground Swimming Pool

by Paul Addison on January 8, 2019 No comments

Following a 5-year quarrel with Led Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy Page, Robbie Williams has been granted permission for his controversial underground swimming pool at his home in Kensington.

This verdict could end a five-year spat between the two musicians over the plans for an underground gym and swimming pool at Robbie’s Grade II-listed home off Kensington High Street in west London.

74-year-old Jimmy Paige is worried the building works will damage his Grade I-listed gothic revival mansion.

Candy cane red and white striped London Townhouse decorated

by Paul Addison on April 25, 2017 No comments

It has been ruled by the High that a woman can ignore a council order to repaint her London townhouse after she decorated it in red and white stripes to look like a candy cane.

In 2015, the town house in Kensington was painted in candy stripes by Zipporah Lisle-Mainwaring, a property developer.

A notice to repaint it white was served after The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea deemed it ‘out of keeping’ with the rest of the zone.

The protection of pubs is backed by Lords

by Paul Addison on March 13, 2017 No comments

It has been voted for in the House of Lords to amend the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, to result in the removal of permitted development rights relating to the change of use or demolition of pubs in the Neighbourhood Planning Bill.

An amendment looking to ensure communities have a say over what happens to pubs has been withdrawn following the committee stage for the bill.

There was a tight vote in the House of Lords on 28 February when the session took place, in which the house wanted to clarify whether the government plans to restrict the capacity of local authorities to put into force relevant conditions.

The local planning process being cheated by developers

by Paul Addison on April 29, 2016 No comments

Just before Christmas the DCLG Select Committee inquiry report into how the NPPF is working in practice was published

When conducting this it was discovered by the committee that developers were abusing any loopholes in the agenda. This is leading to developments that area not desired by locals and the community.

New Guidance Published Amid Soaring Skyscraper Applications

by Paul Addison on December 18, 2015 No comments

Historic England has published revised guidance on the impact of tall buildings amid a surge in applications for new skyscrapers. London is at the heart of this dash to reach for the skies, but big schemes are stacking up next to Georgian and Victorian estates that have conservationists and communities worried.

The Government’s statutory advisor on heritage issues said tall buildings should make a positive contribution to city life but warned they can also seriously harm places.

Inter-war pubs given grade II listed status

by Paul Addison on September 7, 2015 No comments

The Government has agreed with the results of research carried out by Historic England and has listed a number of inter-war pubs on the grounds the buildings represent the best surviving examples of a building type “which is stitched into the fabric of English culture”.

The pubs, most listed at Grade II and one upgraded to II*, are local landmarks. Their design was shaped by the “improved pub” movement that followed the First World War.

Titans of Rock Slug It Out as Un-Neighbourly Planning Dispute “Rambles On”

by DevAssist Team on June 10, 2015 No comments

Robbie Williams has had plans to revamp his multi-million pound home objected to for a third time by Led Zeppelin rocker and next door neighbour, Jimmy Page.

Williams, 41, has submitted plans three times to modernise and extend his £17.5million West London townhouse, which was formerly owned by the late film director Sir Michael Winner. He wants to lower some of the floors in his 46-room mansion and knock down a number of the walls to create bigger rooms and doorways.

London pub demolition “without permission”

by DevAssist Team on April 22, 2015 No comments

Westminster City Council is considering taking legal action against the developer CLTX Ltd over the demolition of a pub in Maida Vale, west London. It was being considered for listing, as it was one of the last buildings left standing in its street during WW2 bombings.

The council had rejected plans to pull down the Carlton Tavern in Carlton Vale in January. CLTX Ltd wants to build a ground-floor pub with four upper floors comprising ten residential units. The planning sub-committee turned down this proposal on January 13 because “the bulk, height and detailed design the new building would be detrimental to the view from the adjacent Maida Vale Conservation Area”.

Homes appeal rejected because of impact on listed building setting

by DevAssist Team on August 19, 2014 No comments

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has dismissed an appeal by a developer seeking permission for a 70-home development in Norfolk after agreeing with the inspector who held the recovered appeal that the “less than substantial” harm to the setting of a Grade I-listed building was sufficient to make the proposals unacceptable.

Developer The Fairfield Partnership had appealed after South Norfolk Council failed to determine its proposals for a site at Wymondham within the prescribed time.