Neighbours at war as extension plan fight taken to High Court

A disgruntled neighbour has asked the High Court to block his neighbour’s planned extension because it is “too suburban” to be built next to his multi-million pound home.

Former Fortnum & Mason designer Glenn Kinnersley, 60, and his wife Donna, from Hollingbourne, are objecting to neighbour Paul Dixon’s proposed barn conversion.

The couple live at Hollingbourne House near Maidstone next to photographer Paul and his wife Angela Dixon, whose Mulberry Cottage adjoins the Kinnersley’s property.

But now the four are at loggerheads after Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) approved the Dixons’ plans to build two new dwellings by converting outbuildings last January.

After writing multiple letters of objection and protest, the Kinnersleys are appealing to the High Court to block the plans for a “suburban” barn conversion as they believe it will have an impact on the heritage asset of their Georgian home, where they have lived for more than 15 years.

The family’s lawyers say they have “fundamental concern about the design of the scheme” from their neighbours, which involves demolishing part of their barn to build a replacement structure, and converting its front section to create two homes, plus parking and garden space.

One letter from Kember Loudon Williams (KLW) on the Kinnersleys’ behalf said the plans were “entirely inappropriate” and would “directly harm” their Grade-II listed home by removing the walls.

Another protest letter sent to MBC saw the Hollingbourne House owners complain about the design of the proposals.

The couple criticised the “dominating windows”, which would be “highly visible” and claimed they, and the project as a whole, would be out of keeping with the character of the site and would “draw the eye”.

They added the new structure would be “overbearing and domineering” and have even submitted their own ideas for an alternative scheme.

MBC planners disagreed with the Kinnersleys and thought the restoration of the crumbling walls would have a public benefit, as well as being a positive gain for the historic home.

Judge Karen Walden Smith reserved ruling in the case and will decide at a later date.

Hollingbourne couple Paul and Angela Dixon have applied for permission to extend part of their barn but neighbours opposed to the proposals have taken their fight to the High Court where a judge will now decide

The plans were approved by Maidstone council