Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page wins deferment in planning battle with Robbie Williams
Jimmy Page’s ongoing planning battle with neighbour Robbie Williams is set to rumble on after their council failed to reach a decision over Williams’ proposed plans.
The former Led Zeppelin guitarist 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.
Williams has been trying to make an extensive series of changes to his lavish property, including a basement with a swimming pool and gym, but Page has opposed the plans claiming they will cause “catastrophic” damage his neighbouring Grade I-listed gothic mansion, Tower House.
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."
Page attended a Kensington and Chelsea Council's planning committee yesterday (29th May) where he told councillors in attendance: “I’m here to plead that you take all necessary measures to protect the Tower House from the threat of harm it faces.”
Williams’ representatives have argued that all building work would adhere to all stringent building regulations and that any effects on surrounding properties would be “negligible”.
Eventually, the council’s planning committee deferred the decision, which Page, who has lived at his property since 1972, said was “a very good conclusion.”
He said: “I’m really pleased at the outcome in so much that the council showed so much consideration to Tower House.”
“There were many things that were said that I found really encouraging. I have been the custodian of the house and on my watch, I feel that I have got to do everything with all these sorts of haphazard things … that really it’s my duty while it’s my watch.
“I’m only the custodian, to pass it on to the next person in the same way I bought it from Richard Harris.”
The rock legend also revealed he only plays acoustic guitars at his home to minimise vibrations.
Back in November 2016, Williams insulted Page during a Facebook Live broadcast and six months later issued an apology.
He wrote: “I would like to offer my sincere apologies to Jimmy Page, my neighbour, for my comments made before Christmas about him in relation to my recent building works, in which I likened alleged behaviour on his part to suffering from a mental illness.
“Jimmy Page has explained to me that certain specific factual assertions which I made were in fact not true and I am happy to accept what Jimmy Page says. I understand why Jimmy Page will have found my comments offensive and I apologise for any hurt that they have caused him and his family as a result.”