Millionaire Australian banker wins bitter war against council over glass roof terrace at his £3.2m Belgravia home
A millionaire banker has finally won a furious 'three-year' battle with his local council over his glitzy glass roof terrace after an appeal ruled 'all his neighbours already have one'.
A millionaire banker has won a 'three-year' battle with his local council over his glitzy glass roof terrace after an appeal ruled 'all his neighbours already have one'.
Dr Christopher Bremner was hauled into a planning row after being accused of installing the glass-and-metal roof terrace without obtaining listed building consent at his £3.2million maisonette apartment in Belgravia.
Westminster City Council said the 'unattractive' alterations, including decking and glass balustrades 'harmed the special architectural and historic interest' of the Georgian residence and were 'entirely unacceptable'.
Furious planners served him with an enforcement notice in June 2024, ordering the staircase, terrace and rooftop equipment to be removed within just four months.
But an independent planning inspector last month quashed the council's case at an appeal - because so many multimillion-pound properties already boast rows of similar rooftop hideaways.
The sleek terrace which juts out an angle, is located in an exclusive Belgravia street where townhouses routinely sell for £10 million-plus.
Inspector Simon Hand concluded: 'The Council suggest [the terrace] is at odds with the historic building itself.
'That such a roof terrace is inherently out of place on a late Georgian building.
This is the plush Belgravia roof terrace that sparked a furious row between a millionaire resident and his council
The imposing glass structure can be seen hanging over the side of the million-pound mansion
Wealthy investment banker Dr Christopher Bremner argued vociferously that his roof terrace was no different to those owned by his well heeled neighbours
Westminster City Council said the 'unattractive' alterations, including decking and glass balustrades 'harmed the special architectural and historic interest' of the area
'That argument has considerable merit, except that there do seem to be a large number of roof terraces on the street and roads around.
'They can be seen in the photos attached to the [enforcement] notice, and I could see numerous examples as I walked the area. The appellant suggests eight at least have been given planning permission.'
He added: 'I agree that discrete roof terraces are very much part of the fabric of the area and I find it difficult to identify any harm that is actually caused.'
The embarrassing loss for Westminster Council potentially paves the way for other roof terraces built without listed planning consent to dodge the threat of demolition.
Mr Bremner, who lives with artist wife Aida Emelyanovva and his twin daughters, on the exclusive street was defiant when approached by the Daily Mail.
The Australian banker, 61, accused council bosses of incompetence and said the enforcement action against him should never have been served.