Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour in row with neighbours over his ‘obtrusive, overbearing' garden shed

Daily Mail​

08-07-2025

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has fallen foul of neighbours over his 'obtrusive, overbearing' garden shed.
The 79-year-old submitted a retrospective planning application to Camden Council after beginning work on the development in April this year.
He has insisted the new shed at his home in Hampstead, north London - which is replacing a summerhouse and old shed - is of 'modest size' and 'traditional construction'.
But locals fear the development is 'significantly more visually and physically intrusive than what was originally approved or what stood there before'.
They have also gone so far as to accuse Mr Gilmour of being 'unneighbourly'.
If constructed as planned, the new shed will be 5.95sqm larger than the summerhouse it is replacing.
But submitting a lengthy objection online, a local residents association urged Camden Council to reject Mr Gilmour's application - and asked the shed be removed 'as soon as possible' to 'stop the continued harm to neighbourhood amenity'.
The group argued the application is 'deliberately misleading' - claiming what Mr Gilmour has built 'no longer complies with' the existing planning permission for the site.
HHGR chair, Audrey Mandela, wrote: 'Permission was granted to rebuild a shed on its original footprint, approximately two metres from the boundary.
'However, what has actually been built is abutting the boundary fence, in a substantively different and more intrusive location.
'The application should be rejected as the structure now in place is obtrusive, overbearing, and significantly more visually and physically intrusive than what was originally approved or what stood there before.
'The matter was raised with the applicant by residents of our road, who hoped to avoid the need for formal action.
'The applicant has reacted by submitting this retrospective application to pre-empt enforcement action.
'Although we understand that formal enforcement action may now be difficult due to the applicant having approached the Council pre-emptively, that does not remove the fact that the current structure is materially different from what was permitted and is too harmful to amenity given that it provides no benefit other than to the applicant.
'We urge the Council to send a strong rebuttal here to the applicant.'
Other neighbours have also submitted complaints - with one saying the new shed is against the rear fence and therefore cannot be obscured with vegetation, as was the case with the old structure.
Another claimed the building should be amended to allow a two-metre gap behind the shed - in order to 'provide space for planting and wildlife'.
Objector Alex Shinder added: 'There was no consultation and the action is unneighbourly.'
But in a statement supporting Mr Gilmour's application, agent Whiteacre Planning said: 'The shed is of a similar design to the previously approved summerhouse.
'[It] is painted green to minimise its visual impact and has a cedar shingle roof which will quickly silver down.
'It is of high quality design and build and is appropriate in this location.'
The letter has also rejected the notion the shed would cause any adverse impact on neighbouring amenity.
It states: 'Although the roof of the shed is above the height of the boundary fence, it will not lead to any overlooking, loss of privacy, or overshadowing.'
The singer and songwriter (second from right) joined Pink Floyd in 1967 before the band became one of the highest-selling and most acclaimed acts in music history in the early 1980s
The letter concludes Mr Gilmour's proposal should be 'granted without delay' - as it 'complies with all relevant local and national planning policy'.
It is not the first time one of the guitarist's sheds has caused controversy.
In 2011, Mr Gilmour was told he must pull down a beach hut at his listed £3million seafront mansion or face prosecution.
The local council told the rock musician the yellow hut he used to house his bicycles was an eyesore in the conservation area at Hove, East Sussex, and had to go.
Mr Gilmour famously sold his house in London's Maida Vale to Earl Spencer – and donated the £3.6 million proceeds to Crisis, a charity for the homeless.
The singer and songwriter joined Pink Floyd in 1967 before the band became one of the highest-selling and most acclaimed acts in music history in the early 1980s.
Mr Gilmour has also released five solo albums.
Camden Council has not yet set a date by which a decision should be made on the guitarist's new shed.