Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Robbie Williams fights council over trees at Kensington pad
IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIME THE STAR HAS HAD A DISAGREEMENT WITH THE COUNCIL, NOT TO MENTION HIS FAMOUS NEIGHBOUR...
ROBBIE Williams faces another council battle over plans to chop down two trees next to his £17.5 million mansion.
The singer, 48, wants to remove a cherry tree and a magnolia outside his Grade II*-listed home in Kensington.
The Take That star previously lost a battle with Kensington and Chelsea Council in April to a trim a 70ft tall robinia tree after it caused his garden wall to crack.
The council’s director of planning Amanda Reid said trimming the tree back would not solve the problem of the wall cracking because it would just grow back.
Williams reportedly bought his West London home in 2013, where he lives next door to Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.
The pair have previously butted heads over various attempts made by Williams to revamp his home.
Williams won permission to build a huge “iceberg basement” with a swimming pool and gym underneath his house in 2019 after a fiveyear row with Page.
The Led Zeppelin guitarist said the vibrations would ruin his home next door. But Page was reportedly in favour of Williams’ plans to cut back the robinia tree, which has been growing closer and closer to his own historic property.
The rockstar was “fully behind” the plan, MailOnline reported.
Page also won council approval for plans to trim a tree in his front garden in May.This time round, tree surgeons RSK Hi-line LTD have been employed by Williams to trim and chop a selection of trees at Williams’ property.
An application to the council in September said the trees are not protected by a preservation order and they are owned by Williams.
They are also set in a conservation area, meaning they’re located in place with significant historic or environmental interest.
The application shows Williams wants to chop down a magnolia tree in an “unsuitable position” and a cherry tree “leaving over” the footpath at the property.
He also plans to trim back four other trees near the house.
Despite Williams losing his previous tree battle, the local authority has recently backed other celebs’ plans to trim and cut down trees outside their swanky Kensington homes.
Lewis Hamilton won a bid to chop down a “beautiful” tree at his £18 million mansion after neighbours complained in April while Jason Statham was allowed to chop down a “pretty” cherry tree outside his property in May.
In a letter to Williams’ tree surgeon, Kensington and Chelsea said the trees at the property will be inspected by council staff before a decision is made.
The authority plans to make a decision by late November.