James Bond star Daniel Craig and his actress wife Rachel Weisz have won a row with locals over renovating their London home – after being forced to make changes to their plans.
The couple, who live in a multi-million property in north London, lodged plans to demolish and build a rear extension with a balcony after knocking down a ‘poorly-constructed’ conservatory last year.
But an objection to the plans was submitted which claimed they would not fit in with the style of their Victorian terraced home, which dates back to 1840, is Grade II listed and sits in a conservation area.
Under the original plans, the couple also asked to split up the ground floor double reception room into two, move the kitchen and replace the first floor rear window which opens out onto a balcony at their five-bedroom home.
The plans were later adjusted by the couple (pictured at Wimbledon last year) prompting the objection to be removed
A representative from their local council’s Conservation Area Committee lodged an objection to the plans on two grounds.
The representative said the new extension which would replace the conservatory ‘would not be in harmony with the original form of the house’.
They also said the committee consisting of a group of residents which advise the local council on planning applications had concerns about replacing the first floor window because of the removal of marginal glazing, a type of historic window pattern from the Victorian era.
It was noted the marginal glazing was ‘a characteristic of the windows in houses of this date’ in the local area.’
The objection was later withdrawn as the rear extension was omitted from the scheme and the existing window in question later wasn’t identified as historical.
Summarising the changes and approving the plans, the council’s chief planning officer wrote: ‘The proposal has been revised during the course of the application to better preserve the special interest of the Grade II listed building and its setting; specifically omitting the 2.3m rear extension.
‘The existing conservatory addition will be upgraded with new glazing and roofing.’
The celebrity duo (pictured at Hollywood in 2015) won a fight in 2017 to keep a 65ft tree behind their property
They added: ‘The angled corner would be squared off but there will otherwise be no change or extension outside of the existing footprint and the line of the rear elevation would be maintained.
‘By virtue of the proposed scale, siting and design of the proposed extension it is considered that the structure would continue to present as a lightweight and subservient infill extension.
‘The front balustrade is of an appropriate material and detail, and is a nominal addition to the front elevation of the property that would also be substantially revisable.
‘The external alterations proposed are not considered to incur any detrimental impacts upon the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building, the wider group of listed buildings, or the character and appearance of this part of the conservation area.
‘The council’s conservation officer has reviewed the proposal and raises no concerns and supports the proposals in their current form.’
The celebrity duo bought the property more than ten years ago and won a fight in 2017 to keep a 65ft tree behind the building, after a neighbour wanted to axe it, claiming its roots were damaging their home.
The row divided the neighbourhood with residents reacting angrily to the idea, but it later emerged the council issued a protection order on the tree.
Craig’s representatives did comment on the plans when approached previously.