Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley have won a fight to chop down a “pretty” tree outside their £10 million West London mansion. The model and Hollywood actor have been given permission to cut down a cherry tree outside their Kensington home, despite a neighbour complaining tree cutting could make the area look like a “graveyard”.
The couple are carrying out a range of works on the historic property they bought in 2020 for a reported £7.5 million. The pair were given permission to carry out repairs on the four-storey Georgian house in 2021, including upgrades to dated plumbing and heating systems. The electrical wiring at the property was also deemed unsafe in parts and in need of replacement.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has now given the couple permission to chop down three trees and trim four others, including an apple tree. Documents show the works are being carried out as “routine maintenance” and that the trees are neither decaying or causing any damage to the property.
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton wins battle to chop tree at £18m London mansion after locals complain
(Image: Hannah Neary)
One neighbour wrote to the council objecting to a cherry tree being chopped down from the couple’s front garden and replaced with another. They said: “It is a pretty, symmetrical , slow growing and flourishing tree. Indeed if there was a trend to replace such with a swathe of Yew, it would be a graveyard and not the eclectic streetscape that so attracts passers-by, existing and new residents. The garden can surely be renovated without the need to destroy a healthy tree that compliments the streetscape.”
Statham and Huntington-Whiteley’s Grade II* listed home is now estimated to be worth £10.4 million and sits in a conservation area, which means it is protected under certain laws because it is historically important. They also hope to repave their front garden and plant a 1.8-metre high hedge for extra privacy.
A report by the couple’s landscaper says: “Proposed planting in the garden has been designed to provide floral and structural interest throughout the year. Many of the species are evergreen. Generous bulb planting shall follow in the autumn. The planting shall have positive impacts on the property aesthetically and for wildlife.”
The council ordered the pair to plant a new magnolia tree outside their property to make up for the loss of the old ones. The local authority is set to make a decision on the rest of the revamp soon.
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