Latest news with #superhome
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Meat mogul millionaire faces heated opposition over plans to demolish 1950s bungalow in exclusive Sandbanks peninsula and build £15m 'superhome' in its place
A meat mogul millionaire has a brewing beef with his new neighbours over his plans to demolish a bungalow and build a £15million 'superhome' on Sandbanks. Hilton Foods Group co-founder, Philip Heffer, shelled out £3.6million for a 1950s style property on the exclusive part of Dorset known as 'millionaire's playground'. More recently, he was given the green light to demolish the run-down Dorset bungalow and replace it with a multi-million super home, which would boast five balconies. Bungalows were traditionally known as a single storey home, but in recent years it has become increasingly common to add a second floor. By the end of construction, the four storey beachfront mansion would be worth an estimated £15million, but his plans have struck a sour note among locals. Among those who have been left feeling off-key about the proposal is piano teacher and neighbour Vivien Shiplee as she believed the balconies will peer into her holiday home. The 68-year-old is concerned the 'superhome' will not only look straight down into her front and back garden, but that the flat-roofed property will cast her home in a shadow. But she isn't the only one to voice her worries, as the Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum also believe Mr Heffer's home poses a threat to locals privacy as it 'will significantly increase the overlooking to the adjacent houses' rear gardens'. However many neighbours are against his most recent proposals for a £15million 'superhome' (Pictured: Mr Heffer's white bungalow in the centre) The forum also questioned the meat mogul's intentions with the flat roof in their statement, saying: 'It is worth mentioning that there is no roof plan to control what is placed upon the roof, its use and what may protrude upon the skyline.' Other mansions on Banks Road in the exclusive stretch of Dorset prime real estate have luxury observation rooms and sun terraces to take in the stunning views. The property is on the 'panhandle' of Sandbanks and will look out on Poole Harbour on one side and the sea on the other. The narrow strip of land has also been identified as a major flood risk in years to come, with experts predicting rising sea levels. Up until now planning officials at Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council have backed Mr Heffer's plans, despite complaints about privacy and over development. They say such concerns come with the territory of living on Sandbanks. Planning officer Claire Moir said the size and design of the new mansion are no different to others that have been built in recent years. She added the 'inevitable overlooking' from balconies was now commonplace due to the 'pattern of development' and was something Sandbanks residents had to accept. Although Mr Heffer was granted planning permission and building work now is underway, he has gone back to the council seeking to amend the scheme and make the whole building slightly taller. By the end of construction it is estimated the property would be worth around £15million Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum also believe Mr Heffer's home poses a threat to local's privacy as it 'will significantly increase the overlooking to the adjacent houses' rear gardens'. MailOnline has approached Mr Heffer for comment. Mr Heffer comes from a dynasty of meat barons, with his father Robin having founded wholesalers Romford Wholesale Meats. But he has since stepped back from his role as chief executive of the pre-packed high quality meat supplier after revenues rose to £3.85billion last year. Last year, his meat firm were planning to expand further after profits jumped by nearly two thirds. The food packaging company, which supplies major supermarkets including Tesco, Morrisons, and Waitrose, reported bumper pre-tax profits growth of 64.2 percent to £ 48.6 million in 2023. Its UK seafood arm returned to operating profitability thanks to price hikes and new business contracts after being heavily impacted the year before. However he is not the only millionaire in the area with planning application woes, as another rich hopeful was deal a devastating blow last May. Tom Glanfield, 46, bought the rundown house in an exclusive area of Dorset known as 'Millionaire's Row' in March 2023. He had dreams of knocking the cottage down and building a state-of-the-art eco-home, but had been hit with resistance ever since. And now, despite locals writing in 28 letters of support for the plans, councillors are being recommended to turn down the 46-year-old's plans on 'conservation grounds'. It comes after Tom Glanfield, 46, bought the rundown house in an exclusive area of Dorset known as 'Millionaire's Row' in March 2023 But since then he has been involved in a two-year fight to demolish the cottage and replace with an eco-home Planning officer Babatunde Aregbesola is set to tell members at Bournemouth and Poole Council on Thursday: 'The proposal by reason of the demolition of the existing cottage would result in the total loss of the non-designated heritage asset causing significant harm to the Sandbanks Conservation Area. 'Consequently, losing a positive building within the Sandbanks CA to a single dwelling of an unsympathetic design is not considered a heritage or public benefit which could outweigh the harm to the significance of the Conservation Area.' The matter was referred to the committee due to the high amount of public support. Elsewhere on 'Millionaire's Row', residents on the exclusive Sandbanks resort emerged victorious after plans for a four-story 'monstrosity' AirBnB was rejected. Fears were raised that it would be snapped up by AirBnB hosts cashing in on demand for rowdy stag and hen parties in the upmarket resort. It came with plans to double the size of a restaurant on site which councillors were warned would transform the pretty street into a 'commercialised strip mall'. The committee voted unanimously to refuse the plans over concerns about the size, bulk and mass of the proposed four-story building, fears of flood risks and concerns about the restaurant element of the plans.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
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.
