It’s a home win: Abramovich wins battle to knock through three buildings and …

Posted on by Listify Me

  • Given permission to build home after three-year battle with planners
  • Neighbours unhappy with the plans that will block the view of the Thames
  • Billionaire Chelsea owner hopes to start work on the project straight away

By
Richard Hartley-parkinson


PUBLISHED:

12:48 GMT, 27 February 2013


|

UPDATED:

13:55 GMT, 27 February 2013


Roman Abramovich plans to knock three houses together to create a £100m home

Roman Abramovich plans to knock three houses together to create a £100m home

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has won a three-year battle with planners for permission to upgrade his £100million Thames-side home.

The 46-year-old tycoon aims to start work immediately linking the 17th century house to two adjacent properties.

His £10million plan to refurbish the mansion has been met with fury from neighbours who have described the proposal’s approval as ‘bad news’.

Estimates put the likely date for completion of the scheme to be at
least three years away, but Chelsea Football Club owner Abramovich and
his family will be elsewhere in London, far from the din as well as the
uprooting of many trees on what was once an estate owned by Thomas More.

After months of a bitter planning battle with locals, Abramovich —
acting behind the little-known Acmonious Investments — has been told
that Kensington And Chelsea Council has decided to grant ‘conditional
permission’ to develop the Grade II-listed building, once owned by the
artist James Whistler and, more recently home to late Tory minister Paul
Channon.

One of the chief objectors, who fears the renovation will blot out views
of the Thames and create a chaotic building site, has informed other
disgruntled residents: ‘It seems that basically the whole proposal will
be approved. This is probably bad news for all of us.’

Particularly hard-hit will be residents of nearby apartments, whose
complaints about losing their views of the Thames were airily dismissed
in the committee’s report.

Plans submitted to Kensington and Chelsea Council show the size of the planned basement - the dotted lines show the footprint of the building at ground level

Plans submitted to Kensington and Chelsea Council show the size of the planned basement – the dotted lines show the footprint of the building at ground level

There will be a sub-basement (solid line) under part of the main basement

There will be a sub-basement (solid line) under part of the main basement

In answer to the objectors, the planners said: ‘There is no right to a view in planning legislation.

‘The proposed development would protect the appearance of the building,
would preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area and
preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the listed
building.’

Part of the building will be converted into an art studio to house artwork he has bought with his partner Dasha Zhukova

Part of the building will be converted into an art studio to house artwork he has bought with his partner Dasha Zhukova

One member of the residents’ committee said: ‘The battle may be lost,
but the war is far from over. We are not going to accept all this lying
down and hope that some of the main preservation groups will get on side
when they see how genuine protest is being ridden over roughshod.’

The Chelsea Football Club owner decided to make the house in Chelsea his home after failing to gain permission to build an eight-bedroom house in nearby Belgravia.

His staff said yesterday that he aims to start work on the refurbishment project immediately after winning approval from Kensington Chelsea Council’s planning committee.

His new home is in a street where Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger owns a house. Fellow band member Keith Richards has also lived in the street.

The businessman aims to excavate beneath the Grade II-listed house, which was once home to artist James Whistler, to create a two-storey basement.

He is also going to convert part of the building into an art studio to house his collection of valuable modern paintings that he has bought along with his 31-year-old partner, Dasha Zhukova.

He has only won permission for the project after making a series of compromises, which were forced on him by neighbours anxious at possible loss of light and increased traffic.

One opponent, Dr Richard Clarke,
warned the venture was ‘totally out of character with the surrounding
buildings on this famous historic site.’

He added: ‘It will be an unsightly fortress-like building, spoiling the outlook for neighbours.’

The red parts of the drawing show parts of the building that will be demolished as part of the plan

The red parts of the drawing show parts of the building that will be demolished as part of the plan

The view of Cheyne Walk where Mr Abramovich intends to live from across the River Thames

The view of Cheyne Walk where Mr Abramovich intends to live from across the River Thames

Another neighbour Christopher Walker, said the scheme would ‘severely damage the character and look of the house.’

But Mr Abramovich’s architects promised planning officials the renovation would turn the property into ‘a beautiful and meaningful contemporary home’.

He and his wife and three-year-old son Aaron are currently living in a Kensington house they own.

Three years ago, the businessman bought two adjacent buildings in Lowndes Square, London and revealed he aimed to turn them into a single eight-bedroom home.

But he had to abandon this venture as part of the complex was National Trust-owned and because of time delays.

Mick Jagger lives nearby

Paul Channon used to live there

Among his neighbours is Mick Jagger (left) while late Tory MP Paul Channon used to live in one of the houses

 

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Another ignorant Russian with plenty of money moving to a historic city like London and creating something that would be more at home in Essex, I would not allow this lot or their laundered money into our country, they are just awful.

myEngland
,

weymouth, United Kingdom,
27/2/2013 13:52

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Of course he got what he wanted, after all Billionaires ALWAYS get what Billionaires want.

Duncan Mynutts
,

The truth,
27/2/2013 13:48

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and the back-handed money had nothing to do with the decision….

berrybaby
,

Aldershot, United Kingdom,
27/2/2013 13:46

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He deserves a little luxury in life. He has worked very hard for his £12,000,000,000 estimated fortune.

Dwayne Dwibbley
,

Gozo, Malta,
27/2/2013 13:45

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To be honest the face of the city has always changed and as long as its done with taste and to a good standard I dont see what the issue is. I would rather see that than some glass monolith.

murun
,

london,
27/2/2013 13:42

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Well who doesn’t need a 100 million pound house?

MOR
,

Melbourne, Australia,
27/2/2013 13:39

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Does he have a work permit? Or does that not apply if you are rich?

TDLeeds
,

Leeds,
27/2/2013 13:35

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UKIP!

adam.gre
,

London,
27/2/2013 13:33

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