18-05-2025
EXCLUSIVE James May forced to repair his £3m London superhome just five years after it was built amid warnings loose bricks caused by rotting timber could fall on passers-by
James May's £3million superhome is already falling apart less than five years after it was completed - as he has been forced to replace a brick canopy after warning that loose bricks could fall on passers-by.
In a dramatic statement, the Top Gear star's architects warned that the shelter over the front door of his garage was a hazard to anyone walking below, less than five years after the building was completed.
Shocking photos of the canopy showed rotten timbers which had disintegrated after the waterproofing system failed.
Now May, 62, is said to have given up on repairing the structure and is instead looking to replace it with a sleek piece of metal for a more modern look at his home in Hammersmith, west London.
Captain Slow bought the house in 2000 for £325,000 and semi-derelict commercial property in 2015 for £310,000, both of which were demolished for the build. Work on the property was still ongoing in September 2020.
The build included a huge garage to store his vast collection of motorbikes and luxury cars.
The design and access statement revealed: 'Despite numerous attempts to repair the existing canopy it has repeatedly failed, and the risk of loose bricks are a hazard to those walking below.
'After discussions with engineers and metalworkers, it has been concluded that this design will likely continue to fail, therefore propose an alteration.'
Captain Slow bought the house in 2000 for £325,000 and semi-derelict commercial property in 2015 for £310,000, both of which were demolished for the build. Work on the property was still ongoing in September 2020
The shaggy-haired presenter bulldozed the two properties, including a light industrial woodshop, in 2019 and built in its place a two-storey residential home.
He then moved all of his luxury cars and motorbikes around the corner from the site in a conservation area.
He has dozens of motorbikes and as many as ten cars, including a limited edition Ferrari 458 Speciale, a Porsche 911 and 1989 Mini Cooper.
The brick canopy was situated above the garage's front door, and had a small light illuminating the door built in.
It was made from a steel frame rapped in marine ply boxing, which was coated in a waterproof layer before being clad in glazed brick.
But after the waterproofing measures failed, water became trapped within the framework causing issues with the electrics and degrading the steel and timber.
The new canopy is a sleek sheet of metal, with the more simple design again incorporating a light to see the door.
The statement continued: 'The new proposed canopy has the appearance of a thin metal folded sheet, with a raw look to the finish, a reference to the industrial heritage of the wood shop rather than the slick painted metal of the residential property.
May, 62, is said to have given up on repairing the structure and is instead looking to replace it with a sleek piece of metal for a more modern look at his home in Hammersmith, west London. Pictured: How it will look after
'It includes a single light so inhabitants can locate the lock in the dark, but under the shadow of the canopy to avoid excess illumination in the street.
'The metal will be as thin as feasible, likely around 6mm, with the appearance of neat sharp corners.
'This allows for the electrics to all be located in the most protected area, and the sheet is slightly raked to lead rain away from users underneath and eliminate the chance of future water ingress.'
May - who starred in DIY cult classic Man Lab - is not believed to be doing the work himself, but has assigned Tuckey Design Studio to create the plans for the building.
He is a regular sight in Hammersmith, and was spotted by MailOnline last year at a local caff enjoying egg and chips and a cigarette.
The new home is six per cent larger than May's previous property with an extra floor on the two side wings.
May, who is nicknamed 'Captain Slow' for his genteel driving style, lived up to his Mr Nice Guy image and avoided a bruising battle with his neighbours by constantly including them in the planning process.
One previously said: 'I couldn't wish for a better neighbour than James. He is a delight and has involved us all at every step of the way.
His next-door-neighbour Cathy Lewis agreed: 'James has been really good and given us lots of information.
'This will be really good for our street, will be a big improvement on what was there before and the designs are sympathetic to the area.
'We know it will take a long time with a lot of disruption, but so far, the builders have been great.
'The new house will look fabulous.'
He held a consultation meeting with his neighbours in 2015 as he was finalizing the plans in order to appease any concerns they had around being overlooked as the new property has an extra floor on two wings and is six per cent larger all round.
May had planning permission approved in 2016 and has put in a series of amendments since then to ensure residents' views were taken into account and to ensure the new property will fit in with a street where some homes were built in the 1840s.
In 2013, May said he planned to embark on the improvements in order to appease his partner.
'The permanent and fragrant presence of Woman demands something a bit better,' he said.
