Kentish Express Ashford & District
Paul O’Grady to build new guest house
Paul O’Grady’s celebrity friends could soon be invited to stay at his country home near Ashford after the TV favourite gained permission for a new guest house.
The For the Love of Dogs host is to knock down a neglected cottage next to his sprawling property in Aldington to make room for the new building.
He will also improve his bluepainted Knoll Hill home by con- verting the loft into a sixth bed- room and adding an entrance lobby to “create a sense of arrival” at the house.
O’Grady, 65, called on award-winning architecture firm Hollaway to work on the plan and submitted his scheme to Ashford Borough Council just before Christmas.
A survey found bat droppings in the loft but planning officer Rob Bewick said steps taken to mitigate the impact on the winged mammals “can be considered acceptable”.
He also approved the removal of five trees to improve the driveway and parking arrangements as there is a “good level of screening to that part of the site”.
Mr Bewick added: “While the development is within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the landscape’s character and appearance would be preserved with respect to the extensions to the existing dwelling and enhanced by the removal of the existing cottage and replacement with that which is proposed.
“The level of screening, high-quality design and materials would be appropriate and not result in visual harm.”
Described as a modern cottage, the two-storey guest house will feature a dining and kitchen space, a separate living area and two upstairs bedrooms.
In his main property, O’Grady - who keeps farm animals including pigs and goats on his grounds - will increase the size of the study and kitchen, and add a spiral staircase leading to the sixth bedroom in the loft.
The Liverpudlian, who hit the big time as his drag alter ego Lily Savage, has lived at the picturesque spot for years and has opened the Aldington fete on several occasions.
Last summer, he was given the go-ahead to build a private dance studio at his property for his ballet star husband Andre Portasio, 40.
In a 2010 interview, O’Grady revealed how he found a home for fellow comedian Julian Clary in the village, but it is believed the TV funnyman has now moved away.
“It was me who found Julian the house,” O’Grady said.
“I knew the couple who lived there and thought ‘I know who’ll love this place’.
“I told him and he fell in love with it as soon as he saw it. It’s a lovely part of the world.
“I’ve been here for years and it is very much my home.
“When you do get a couple of days of sunshine in Kent and go for a long walk it’s fab. “
O’Grady partly filmed the ITV show Great British Escape from his home last year.
‘I’ve been here for years and it is very much my home...’ Paul O’Grady