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| London bubble-bath tycoon gets go-ahead for huge 'iceberg' basement | London bubble-bath tycoon gets go-ahead for huge 'iceberg' basement |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A bubble-bath tycoon has been given permission to build what is believed to be London’s biggest “iceberg basement”, complete with Roman baths, cinema and banquet hall. | A bubble-bath tycoon has been given permission to build what is believed to be London’s biggest “iceberg basement”, complete with Roman baths, cinema and banquet hall. |
| Multimillionaire Robert Beecham, 65, is to demolish his six-bedroom detached house in Primrose Hill and replace it with a seven-bedroom mansion complete with a 200ft-long basement. | |
| The new property, dubbed an “iceberg home” because so much of the development is underground, will house a 65ft swimming pool, bar, hammam or Turkish bath, games room, gym, massage room and hot pool. | The new property, dubbed an “iceberg home” because so much of the development is underground, will house a 65ft swimming pool, bar, hammam or Turkish bath, games room, gym, massage room and hot pool. |
| Beecham, who made his fortune by securing the first Star Wars product licence in Europe in 1976, giving him the rights to make children’s toiletries featuring characters from the film, is to hand over £600,000 towards affordable housing as part of the deal to secure planning permission. | Beecham, who made his fortune by securing the first Star Wars product licence in Europe in 1976, giving him the rights to make children’s toiletries featuring characters from the film, is to hand over £600,000 towards affordable housing as part of the deal to secure planning permission. |
| But the plans have upset some neighbours, who urged Camden council to refuse the application. | But the plans have upset some neighbours, who urged Camden council to refuse the application. |
| In a submission to the council’s planning committee, neighbour Meir Elias said: “I am 88 years old, I rarely leave my home. My favourite place to sit is by the window of my front room watching out over the calm and quiet street I have lived in for over 30 years. | In a submission to the council’s planning committee, neighbour Meir Elias said: “I am 88 years old, I rarely leave my home. My favourite place to sit is by the window of my front room watching out over the calm and quiet street I have lived in for over 30 years. |
| “But if my neighbours are allowed to demolish their home and add 16,102 sq ft to their property this will require an extensive period of construction. | “But if my neighbours are allowed to demolish their home and add 16,102 sq ft to their property this will require an extensive period of construction. |
| “During this time I will be subjected to noise, dust, vibrations, loss of air quality, traffic issues. The peace and quiet of my window seat will be entirely lost and there will be a detrimental effect to the quality of my life.” | “During this time I will be subjected to noise, dust, vibrations, loss of air quality, traffic issues. The peace and quiet of my window seat will be entirely lost and there will be a detrimental effect to the quality of my life.” |
| Francoise Findlay, chairman of the Elsworthy Residents committee, said the proposed basement far exceeds the size of any other in the area, which is popular with celebrities such as Jamie Oliver, Sadie Frost and Daisy Lowe. | Francoise Findlay, chairman of the Elsworthy Residents committee, said the proposed basement far exceeds the size of any other in the area, which is popular with celebrities such as Jamie Oliver, Sadie Frost and Daisy Lowe. |
| “Despite the attached professional reports the amount of excavation necessitated on the site remains a huge concern,” Findlay said. “The proposed garden above the basement will be compromised for the future.” | “Despite the attached professional reports the amount of excavation necessitated on the site remains a huge concern,” Findlay said. “The proposed garden above the basement will be compromised for the future.” |
| The council said such basements were preferred to be within the footprint of the building but could be larger if assessed and there was no impact on neighbouring properties. | The council said such basements were preferred to be within the footprint of the building but could be larger if assessed and there was no impact on neighbouring properties. |
| A representative for Beecham had told the committee the new house would be “very respectful to its neighbours”, and there had not been significant objections, while the basement would be “invisible at garden level, except for a small fire escape at the rear of the site”. | A representative for Beecham had told the committee the new house would be “very respectful to its neighbours”, and there had not been significant objections, while the basement would be “invisible at garden level, except for a small fire escape at the rear of the site”. |