Jimmy Page loses five-year planning battle with neighbour Robbie Williams
Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page has lost his five-year planning battle with neighbour Robbie Williams.
At a Kensington and Chelsea Council planning meeting last night (Tuesday 18th December), Williams was granted conditional approval to build an underground swimming pool at his west London home, despite Page’s objections.
The guitar legend fears excavation work on the pool will cause “catastrophic” damage to his neighbouring Grade I-listed Gothic-style mansion, Tower House.
According to the BBC, planning committee chairman councillor Quentin Marshall called on Page and Williams to "find a way to talk" about their ongoing issues.
Page and the pop singer have been locked in a feud since Williams bought the late Michael Winner’s Kensington home for £17.5million in December 2014.
Back in May of this year, Page won a deferment in the planning battle when he personally attended a meeting with Kensington and Chelsea Council's planning committee.
He told them: “I’m here to plead that you take all necessary measures to protect the Tower House from the threat of harm it faces.”
The former Take That singer submitted proposals to the council in January to excavate a basement under his home and in response Page submitted a two-page letter objecting to them.
He wrote: "Having protected the Tower House for over 40 years, I am now continuing the fight against a new threat to this precious and unique building."
Williams’ representatives have previously argued that all building work would adhere to all stringent building regulations and that any effects on surrounding properties would be “negligible”.
Although Williams has now been granted conditional approval, building work won’t start until the council has received guarantees about monitoring vibration levels and ground movement.
It’s also subject to a legal agreement and Williams could be asked to pay a bond, which he would potentially lose if there is any damage.
Page, who has lived at his property since 1972, said via his representatives “he will be reassured that the committee of councillors are taking the protection of the house seriously.
"He wants Robbie to come back with proposals that eliminate all risk to the Tower House."