Residents of Belgravia’s exclusive Millionaires Row are locked in a bitter dispute over plans to excavate a £2 million mega-basement beneath a £20 million townhouse. The six-storey property, owned by an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands, already features a hair salon, wine cellar, sauna, steam room and cinema. The proposed development would add an underground gym and swimming pool, sparking fears that neighbouring mansions could ‘implode’ due to structural weakening.
Westminster Council rejected the plans last year, citing the ‘excessive depth’ of the excavation and risks to the historic terrace built by Thomas Cubitt in the early 19th century. However, the owner, Rosspark Ltd, has appealed the decision, setting the stage for a final showdown with the independent Planning Inspectorate. The company insists the proposals are ‘respectful of the existing building’ and would have ‘no adverse impacts’ on structural stability.
Wealthy neighbours have voiced strong opposition, describing the scheme as a ‘gratuitous vanity construction project’. One objector noted that even Cubitt, with his wealthy clients, ‘would not have installed an artificial lake in the basement’ given the area’s swampy soil. Others urged the owners to use local swimming pools instead of living ‘hermetically sealed within exclusive luxury palaces’.
Health concerns have also been raised, with families warning that construction dust and vehicle emissions could worsen air quality. One objection highlighted the disturbance to three children’s ‘development, mental health and health’. The property was purchased for £14 million in 2005, and the basement work is estimated to cost £2 million, including relocating the wine cellar and extending an existing lift.
