Men in hard hats move in on Pippa and James Matthews’ £17million mansion as work begins on a a new bathroom for the billionaire couple who live on one of London’s most exclusive roads.
The newlyweds are building a first floor extension above the kitchen to build a new bathroom that comes complete with a ‘vanity basin’, his and hers sinks.
Their mansion already boasts a gym, an underground cinema, a lift, a ‘staff room’ as well as six bedrooms. The extension will also add separate male and female dressing rooms off the master bedroom.
Removal men were pictured taking bedding in anticipation for the renovation to the five-storey, stucco-fronted property, which James, 40, bought in 2014.
But the plans have angered the couple’s well-heeled neighbours along the tree-lined streets who have complained that the extension will block out the light and building work will cause noise and disruption.
Men in hard hats move in on Pippa Middleton’s £17million home as work begins on a multimillion first floor extension in one of London’s most exclusive roads
Plans: Pippa and her husband James Matthews have angered neighbours with a new first floor expansion to fit in a new bathroom
Extension: The billionaire couple are building the extension above the kitchen with that comes complete with a ‘vanity basin’, his and hers sinks
Wedding: Pippa moved into the luxury mansion in May 2016, a year before she married Mr Matthews this summer, in the society wedding of the year
Ellen Dyvik, who lives next door, was concerned that the extension will block out the sunlight into her kitchen.
She complained to the council: ‘We have reviewed the proposed plan, and strongly object to the suggested rear extension.
‘It will completely block the sunlight which currently comes into our kitchen for a limited time in the middle of the day, and generally block the daylight into our kitchen from the adjacent window.
‘If the project goes ahead we will see significant morning light and sun loss in; our cherished outside patio, our main kitchen dining area which is designed as an orangery, our main office.
‘The house should be big enough to be able to accommodate our neighbours’ architectural plans within the existing structure.’
She added that neither Mr Matthews or the council planning officers considering the planning application have ‘ever spoken to us or assessed the situation’.
Marc Perusat, neighbour on the other side, said he was dreading the disruption of the building work, after enduring an extension and years of renovation work at the property before Mr Matthews bought it.
But the plans to build an extra bathroom at the back of their home have gone down badly with the couple’s well-heeled neighbours, who have objected to the plans
Ellen Dyvik, who lives next door, was concerned that the extension will block out the sunlight into her kitchen. She complained to the council: ‘We have reviewed the proposed plan, and strongly object to the suggested rear extension
He wrote: ‘My family lived through the [previous] extensive several years development a few years ago. It was a highly disruptive construction project with all the obvious inconveniences that a refurbishment of that size involves.
But despite their neighbours’ objections the Matthews were granted permission for the new bathroom in January this year
‘At one stage it caused the tallest part and substantial part of the rest of garden wall to collapse into our garden, which could literally have killed persons though strangely we received no apologies from the then owner and we had to pay for all the damages done to our garden.
‘The current application appears to be yet another floor on top of the extended kitchen, which will reduce both the view of vegetation from our property as well as the light.
‘Consequently we very much oppose this development though, in doing so, we feel sorry to inconvenience our new neighbour.’
Another neighbour wrote: ‘The completed extension would constrain the view over the gardens from the master bedroom, kitchen and staircase windows.
‘The construction itself would cause considerable inconvenience to us and our children.’
But despite his neighbours’ misgivings Mr Matthews was granted planning permission to build the new bathroom in January last year.
Now work appears to be finally beginning, well within the three year time period of the permission.
Pippa moved into the luxury mansion in May 2016, a year before she married Mr Matthews this summer, in the society wedding of the year.
Removal men discreetly moved tables and chairs, dresses, coats, shoes and ornaments into his palatial property from the nearby flat that she shared with her brother, while she was on holiday with Mr Matthews.
The removal team were met by a housekeeper who took charge of Pippa’s playful brown cocker spaniel Zula. Her grey Range Rover Evoque was parked in the driveway.