Fashion designer-turned-sculptor Nicole Farhi today criticised council planners for a “ridiculous” seven-month legal row over her garden studio.
Camden council told Farhi, 69, to tear down the studio behind her £5million Hampstead home because it was 40cm — or 15¾in —higher than the approved plans.
The studio, where Farhi’s actor friends including Dame Judi Dench, Helena Bonham Carter and Bill Nighy have posed for sittings, was described as “huge and ugly” by some neighbours. Camden agreed and threatened enforcement action.
But a government planning inspector has now ruled in Farhi’s favour, saying the building, while bigger than agreed, has no “significant” impact on neighbours.
Farhi today described the furore as “ridiculous” after spending thousands of pounds on the appeal process while huge mansion extensions are allowed to go ahead throughout the exclusive suburb.
She told the Standard: “I went over the agreed size by 40cm. It was ridiculous. People build these enormous modern buildings next to older houses and it’s a great shame. It’s not rational.
“I agree that the council has to keep an eye on what’s happening in Hampstead but there are times when they shouldn’t object to what other people do as long as it does not obstruct the views of neighbours.”
She and her husband, the acclaimed playwright Sir David Hare, have lived in the 18th-century semi-detached townhouse for 20 years.
Neighbours Sasha and Richard Savage were among those who lodged objections to the building, describing it as “huge and ugly. Not ‘modest’ by any means.”
Farhi added: “I’m pleased and very happy that the appeal was upheld. I regret the money and the small arguments with neighbours. Our planning lawyers were very good but it was costly. The building is bigger than a shed and is where I sculpt. I’m happy in there. It’s a lovely studio. It has all been such a stupid thing.”
Planning inspector Jon Hockley concluded that more of the structure was visible to neighbours than had been planned, but even in the agreed designs some of the outbuilding would have been visible.
He wrote: “I do not consider that this extra height, width and positioning of the structure has a significant adverse effect on the outlook of neighbouring properties and their garden settings over and above what the approved structure would have created.”
The council’s regeneration chief, Phil Jones, said Camden had “shared the view of neighbours that this outbuilding harms the garden setting of their properties and damaged the character of the conservation area”.
But he added: “We have been overruled by the government inspector and planning permission has been granted on appeal. Therefore no further enforcement action will be taken in this case.”
- https://www.standard.co.uk
