Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has shelved plans to build a 160sq ft shed in his back garden after the application sparked complaints from furious neighbours.
The actor, 41, was seeking permission to build the shed behind his £2.7million three-storey home to house bike storage, an art studio and a play room for his two young sons.
But he withdrew the application after he received a number of objections from residents of his north London neighbourhood, who complained he was trying to ‘hoodwink’ the council by describing the sizeable building as a ‘shed’.
One resident objected: ‘This is not a shed – this is a large four metre structure which is tantamount to a flagrant attempt at encroachment. This is a cynical application and if more space is required by this family I suggest they purchase a bigger house.’
Building works: Benedict Cumberbatch and wife Sophie Hunter, pictured last year, wanted to build a shed to house a play room for their two young sons behind their north London home
Big plans: The family bought the property in April 2015 but have not yet moved in
Maximising the space: The couple have shelved plans for the shed in their garden, pictured
Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Turner bought the three-storey, five-bedroom Victorian mansion in Camden, in April 2015 but have yet to move in due to ongoing works.
Last year he was granted planning permission to convert an attic into another bedroom, and to build a new balcony, plant room and rear extension.
Most recently he sought permission to add a second building to the property.
Plans submitted to Camden Council state that the shed – which locals said is so big it would be ‘more like a pavilion’ – will be ‘6.25m wide’ and ‘2.5m deep’ – and just under 10ft high – covering an area of 15 square metres, which is 160 square feet.
The plans, submitted on the actor’s behalf by Doyle Town Planning & Urban Design, state: ‘The development comprises a new rear garden shed… [it will be] clad in timber and overlaid with a timber trellis to the front and sides…which will support climbing plants’.
Leafy: Neighbours complained about the impact the build would have on the environment
After the Dartmouth Park Conservation Area Advisory Committee opposed the plans, saying the structure was ‘too big’ to be called a ‘shed, Cumberbatch’s planning agent, Michael Doyle explained: ‘The shed will not provide and is not suitable for use as living/sleeping accommodation or as an extension or annexe to the main house.
To call this a shed is a blatant attempt to hoodwink our planning officers and neighbours to the true scale of this building
A local resident’s objection
‘The proposed use is incidental to the enjoyment of the property.’
Almost half a dozen residents sent objection letters to the council, including residents’ association chair Deborah Ryan.
She wrote: ‘This is clearly a garden room with the potential for a variety of uses. It is clear that the purpose of this room is some sort of party, music, hobby or office space.
‘The likely use by the applicant…. would be for other purposes that could both increase the activity and noise at the end of their garden.’
Another objector said: ‘To call this a shed is a blatant attempt to hoodwink our planning officers and neighbours to the true scale of this building.’
Criticism: One neighbour complained Cumberbatch, pictured with his wife in 2015, was trying to ‘hoodwink’ the council by describing the sizeable building as a ‘shed’
A third added: ‘We are concerned about the likelihood of overshadowing and loss of light in the mews, particularly as the plans for the shed indicate that it would go significantly higher than the boundary wall.
‘We very much treat the street as a communal front garden – as do other residents: neighbours have a drink together if the weather’s nice, and we sometimes pull tables out and eat together.
‘This would be all significantly impeded if a large new structure were to change the light, visual amenity and overall character of the street – which we believe would be the case were this application to be successful.’
Planners at Camden Council were due to make a decision on the shed next month but Cumberbatch has now withdrawn the application.
MailOnline has contacted a representative of Benedict Cumberbatch for comment.