Boy George has planning application for his Grade II-listed London home rejected

Eighties singer, 53, said work would brighten up his Hampstead mansion
But council said it would be ‘detrimental‘ to character of the listed building
Planner said extension was an ‘over-dominant and incongruous addition’
Boy George, real name George O’Dowd, lodged an appeal against decision

Steph Cockroft for MailOnline

Published:
18:59 GMT, 2 March 2015

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Updated:
20:45 GMT, 2 March 2015

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Boy George wants to build a glazed extension at his Grade-II listed property in Hampstead, London

Boy George’s plans to build a lavish glazed extension onto his Grade-II listed London mansion have been turned down.

The 53-year-old applied to build the extension at his multi-million pound home in Hampstead in a bid to brighten up the property.

According to his planning application, the Culture Club frontman also wanted to chop down three trees to allow more light into the Victorian building.

But Camden council rejected the proposals last September, saying the designs were an ‘over-dominant and incongruous addition’.

It added that they would be ‘detrimental to the character, appearance and special architectural and historic interests of the hosted listed building’.

The singer, who put the papers in under his real name George O’Dowd, is now appealing against the decision.

The building works, filed under the singer’s real name George O’Dowd, would see new floor-to-ceiling windows installed to increase light.

Among the planned works were external and internal alterations to the ground floor front windows, a new side window, a new rear garden door and re-landscaping of garden.

The garden landscaping would include the removal of three mature trees and the demolition of an existing summer house.

But the designs were opposed by the Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee (CCAC).

A letter sent to the council by the group said the scheme was an over-development and would affect neighbours.

They wrote: ‘We object to the extension and the hard landscaping because of the garden take-up and potential light pollution.’

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As part of the plans, Syte Architects, based in Soho, said: ‘The house does not benefit from a great deal of natural light into its interior. Its frontage is orientated to the north east.

‘The rear has a southwesterly orientation but a combination of factors mean that the interior often suffers from poor levels and quality of natural lighting.’

Camden council rejected the proposals for the Victorian mansion (pictured) last September, saying the designs were an ‘over-dominant and incongruous addition’

It added: ‘The proposed extension has been designed to create living spaces with a greater sense of connection to the garden and better levels of natural light. These spaces will have a different atmosphere and character to the internal spaces in the existing house.’

A planning inspector will consider written representations from both sides and is expected to make a site visit to his home before reaching a decision.