Neighbours at war over tech tycoon's £100m ‘iceberg' mega-basement with saunas, bar & luxury cinema

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

Dozens of neighbours have objected to the proposed plans
THIN ICE Neighbours at war over tech tycoon's £100m 'iceberg' mega-basement with saunas, bar & luxury cinema
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LOCALS have launched a furious campaign against a millionaire tech tycoon's plans to build a mammoth basement under his swank mansion.
Planning application documents for the massive basement detail plans to build saunas, a bar and a luxury cinema.
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The CEO of Oakley capital hopes to build a 7,700 sq ft basement
Credit: Nick Ray - The Times
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The planning application for the £10 million home has upset locals
Millionaire investor Peter Dubens wants to erect a whopping 7,700 sq ft basement under his already sizable home.
The tycoon, who founded Oakley capital in 2002, has infuriated neighbours with the "iceberg" plans.
Dubens submitted a planning application to the local council detailing the two year project.
Locals and neighbours quickly fell to objecting to the "vanity project" which would take up nearly 50% of the area under Mr Dubens garden.
The renovation would take two years to complete and would feature saunas, a wine cellar, an entertainment space and a golf simulator.
Dozens of objections against the millionaires controversial proposal began flooding in soon after the application was made.
Neighbours took issue with everything from the traffic management plan to potential flooding risks.
Locals said the last time Dubens had work done to his £10 million mansion it took nearly three years to complete.
Claims were also lodged that cars, water pipes and sewage pipes were damaged during the previous renovation works.
Six ward councillors have written to the council objecting to the massive planning application, saying the basement development would create an "iceberg" home.
An "iceberg" home is a residence with more square footage below ground than above.
Specific legislation was introduced by the borough to control the development of basements and prevent "iceberg" homes from being built.
Ward councillors also said the plans posed an unacceptable flood risk and would harm the character of the conservation area.
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Dubens has been accused of trying to build an "iceberg" home
Credit: Nick Ray - The Times
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The basement renovation would extend under nearly 50% of his garden
Credit: Nick Ray - The Times
Additionally councillors raised concerns about overdevelopment and harm to residential amenity, hazardous construction impact and cumulative harm to sustainability, heritage, and quality of life.
One local objection to the application reads: "The current Construction Traffic Management Plan envisages 10 concrete mixers and 10 skip lorries a week (averaging one every two hours, with a forty minute maximum dwell time) for a period of many months.
"In other words, hundreds of vehicles will be needed to drive up a road which is too narrow to take them."
Another local objection said: "This is nothing more than one man's appalling vanity project.
"Why does one man need so much? He clearly doesn't care one jot about anyone else, nor the area in which he lives."
Concerns have been raised over potential damage to a Grade II listed Tudor wall dating from Henry VIII's manor house that is part of the perimeter of the mansions garden.
The planning application was unearthed by local news outlet The Chelsea Citizen.
A spokesperson for Mr Duben told The Chelsea Citizen: 'We make every effort to listen to the concerns of our neighbours.
"In the event that any development work does take place, it will be undertaken with due care and consideration, and in strict accordance with planning regulations.'
The application will be considered for approval by the local council this month.
The Sun has contacted Peter Dubens' team and the local council for comment.
Dubens made his millions in colour changing t-shirts before pivoting into investment.
He went on to make more money from the sale of Pipex broadband and invested in Time Out magazine.
In 2019 the millionaire set up the Peter Dubens Family Foundation to support good causes, mostly in the UK.