Richard Caring with his wife Patricia
(Picture: Dave Benett)Billionaire Richard Caring is embroiled in another row over the construction of his £40million South Kensington mansion - this time over an order to remove the property’s ’excessively large’ windows
Kensington and Chelsea council has told the owner of the Ivy restaurant and Annabel’s nightclub to remove three dormer windows on the roof of Park House in Onslow Square, arguing the ‘excessive and dominant’ additions are in breach of planning control.
The consented designs for the house included roof lights, not dormer windows, prompting the local authority to issue an enforcement notice ordering their removal within six months. However Caring, 73, has launched an appeal.
Submitted by his wife Patricia Caring, the appeal argues that the windows are ‘appropriate’ for the context and that the dormers have been designed in a traditional style that reflects the wider conservation area.
It comes just weeks after the couple infuriated neighbours by closing off part of Onslow Square in order to plant a group of trees in their garden, hiring a crane to lift them over the top of next-door houses.
Park House has been under construction for five years, replacing a pair of 19th century cottages previously owned by Gert-Rudolf Flick, heir to the Daimler Benz auto fortune.
Caring bought the property in 2018 for a ‘bargain’ £40 million five years after it went on the market for £165 million. He then drew up plans to replace the original buildings with a new luxury villa and double basement.
The two-storey home includes a dining room with seating for 16, a family room, a children’s study and 48ft-long drawing room known as the Red Room.
The double basement includes a 50ft-long swimming pool, gym, beauty treatment room, massage, steam and sauna rooms, and a cinema.
Kensington and Chelsea council said it was aware of the appeal and it would be making a submission to the Planning Inspectorate.
A spokesperson said: “Planning regulations exist to protect neighbourhoods. We take breaches very seriously and work with landowners to investigate and fix issues quickly.”
The Planning Inspectorate said it expected written submissions from both parties by 7 September. Richard Caring’s representatives were approached for comment.
