Owner of The Ivy Ordered to Remove Windows from £40 Million Mansion

Renowned restaurant magnate Richard Caring has been directed by the local council to remove three windows from his opulent Kensington mansion, following his unsuccessful legal battle. Caring, the proprietor of esteemed establishments such as The Ivy, Scott's, and Sexy Fish restaurants, faced defeat in his appeal against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

 

The council had issued a demand for the removal of three "incongruous and dominant windows" from Caring's expansive 13,400 square foot residence. These windows, incorporated as part of a renovation, were deemed to contravene local heritage regulations and had been installed without prior planning permission. Caring and his wife, Patricia, had launched an appeal last year, but the planning inspectorate has now sided with the council's stance.

 

The council's ruling argued that these windows failed to uphold the "character and appearance" of the surrounding area, which falls within a Conservation Area designed to safeguard a "remarkable slice of South Kensington's architectural history." Several neighbors had raised concerns about privacy and light pollution due to the windows, but the central issue, as identified by Planning Inspector Elizabeth Pleasant, was the windows' size, which was deemed detrimental to the area's character.

 

Caring's request for additional time to address the concerns was also denied. Consequently, he now faces a six-month deadline to remove the windows and replace them with more fitting fixtures. Despite this setback, the 75-year-old entrepreneur expressed his determination to find a mutually agreeable resolution with the council, stating, "We have lost the appeal to keep the windows as they are. In the future, we hope we come to an agreement with the council on something that is more acceptable."

 

It's worth noting that the rulings of the planning inspectorate can be contested in the High Court within six weeks of issuance.

 

Richard Caring, who also holds ownership of the exclusive Mayfair private members' club Annabel's, acquired Park House in 2017 from German industrialist Gert-Rudolf Flick. The property's estimated worth is £40 million. The extensive renovations included the replacement of an existing cottage on the grounds with a six-bedroom mansion, complete with a double-level basement, featuring massage, steam, and sauna rooms, as well as an underground swimming pool and gym.

 

Caring initially amassed his wealth in the clothing trade during the 1980s, sourcing items from Asia and distributing them in Britain. Notably, one of his prominent clients was British businessman Philip Green, who served as the chief of the Arcadia Group, the parent company of retailers like BHS, Topshop, and Dorothy Perkins. Caring transitioned into the hospitality industry in 2005 and is presently estimated to be worth £950 million, according to the most recent Sunday Times Rich List.

 

Broadgate Legal

London Solicitors 

 

Tel; 0203 206 1133