Latest news with #planningApplication
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour in row with neighbours over his ‘obtrusive, overbearing' garden shed
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has fallen foul of neighbours over his 'obtrusive, overbearing' garden shed. The 79-year-old submitted a retrospective planning application to Camden Council after beginning work on the development in April this year. He has insisted the new shed at his home in Hampstead, north London - which is replacing a summerhouse and old shed - is of 'modest size' and 'traditional construction'. But locals fear the development is 'significantly more visually and physically intrusive than what was originally approved or what stood there before'. They have also gone so far as to accuse Mr Gilmour of being 'unneighbourly'. If constructed as planned, the new shed will be 5.95sqm larger than the summerhouse it is replacing. But submitting a lengthy objection online, a local residents association urged Camden Council to reject Mr Gilmour's application - and asked the shed be removed 'as soon as possible' to 'stop the continued harm to neighbourhood amenity'. The group argued the application is 'deliberately misleading' - claiming what Mr Gilmour has built 'no longer complies with' the existing planning permission for the site. HHGR chair, Audrey Mandela, wrote: 'Permission was granted to rebuild a shed on its original footprint, approximately two metres from the boundary. 'However, what has actually been built is abutting the boundary fence, in a substantively different and more intrusive location. 'The application should be rejected as the structure now in place is obtrusive, overbearing, and significantly more visually and physically intrusive than what was originally approved or what stood there before. 'The matter was raised with the applicant by residents of our road, who hoped to avoid the need for formal action. 'The applicant has reacted by submitting this retrospective application to pre-empt enforcement action. 'Although we understand that formal enforcement action may now be difficult due to the applicant having approached the Council pre-emptively, that does not remove the fact that the current structure is materially different from what was permitted and is too harmful to amenity given that it provides no benefit other than to the applicant. 'We urge the Council to send a strong rebuttal here to the applicant.' Other neighbours have also submitted complaints - with one saying the new shed is against the rear fence and therefore cannot be obscured with vegetation, as was the case with the old structure. Another claimed the building should be amended to allow a two-metre gap behind the shed - in order to 'provide space for planting and wildlife'. Objector Alex Shinder added: 'There was no consultation and the action is unneighbourly.' But in a statement supporting Mr Gilmour's application, agent Whiteacre Planning said: 'The shed is of a similar design to the previously approved summerhouse. '[It] is painted green to minimise its visual impact and has a cedar shingle roof which will quickly silver down. 'It is of high quality design and build and is appropriate in this location.' The letter has also rejected the notion the shed would cause any adverse impact on neighbouring amenity. It states: 'Although the roof of the shed is above the height of the boundary fence, it will not lead to any overlooking, loss of privacy, or overshadowing.' The singer and songwriter (second from right) joined Pink Floyd in 1967 before the band became one of the highest-selling and most acclaimed acts in music history in the early 1980s The letter concludes Mr Gilmour's proposal should be 'granted without delay' - as it 'complies with all relevant local and national planning policy'. It is not the first time one of the guitarist's sheds has caused controversy. In 2011, Mr Gilmour was told he must pull down a beach hut at his listed £3million seafront mansion or face prosecution. The local council told the rock musician the yellow hut he used to house his bicycles was an eyesore in the conservation area at Hove, East Sussex, and had to go. Mr Gilmour famously sold his house in London's Maida Vale to Earl Spencer – and donated the £3.6 million proceeds to Crisis, a charity for the homeless. The singer and songwriter joined Pink Floyd in 1967 before the band became one of the highest-selling and most acclaimed acts in music history in the early 1980s. Mr Gilmour has also released five solo albums. Camden Council has not yet set a date by which a decision should be made on the guitarist's new shed.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Car dealership still lying abandoned after its sudden closure two YEARS ago – as decision on new plans is delayed again
PLANS to turn a car dealership, left abandoned and empty for two years, into shops have been delayed once again. The local council has been dragging its feet over a change of use application that is now two-years-old. 2 A former Kia garage, the site on Stratford Road, Warwick, has been left abandoned since the dealerships sudden closure in 2023. A change of use planning application for both units on the site was made in October 2023. Planning documents said one unit would become a convenience shop and the other would be taken over by a small business. Parking spaces and electric vehicle charging spaces were also planned for the site. The plans for the site were due to go in front of Warwick District Council's planning committee in April but were withdrawn from the agenda. They were then slated to go before the committee again on May 20 but were once again knocked back. Plans were taken off the Tuesday meeting's agenda to "enable the applicant to clarify certain aspects of their proposal." Planning officers had recommended the pans for refusal previously, raising concerns about parking. The site has been left empty since April 2023 with a replacement Kia dealership opening up nearby in May 2023. Plans to repurpose the abandoned site have hit several roadblocks with objections raised by locals. The building has been floated on the market with property agent Bromwich Hardy. It was listed for £1.1 million and boasted 9,200 sq ft which included two showrooms, a workshop and a tyre fitting bay. As well as the publics objections to the recent plans for a change of use, Warwick Town Council submitted one. The council had raised concerns of the safety of pedestrians with vehicles coming in and out of the site. Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. Residents concerns with the plans ranged from opening hours to access safety to parking. Issues were raised with what the second unit would become as well. Plans suggested a hairdresser or a funeral parlour but no business was confirmed to be taking on the second unit. Two councillors objected to the plans with one asking that the developer "considers installing bus shelters." There were a total of 32 objections, including one duplicate, to the plans. The majority raised similar issues with parking, safety and no need for more retail units being top concerns. By comparison only 13 support comments were received, on being a duplicate. Top factors sited by supporters were the support for the local economy and the provision of jobs. 2
